When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 14

Chapter 14



The day after, Brenda told me she had sorted everything out, and that was when I realized she was supposed to leave early that morning.

"Melanie, I've wanted to talk to you about this for a while," she started, her voice laced with a hint of hesitation. "But I was worried about how it might affect your recovery. I was on the fence about taking Rocky with me. I only went through with the paperwork because I thought, what if you couldn't take care of him?"

Brenda's son had been urging her to move to Aurorea for the longest time, but she was in a dilemma because she was concerned for me and Rocky. To speed up her departure, her family even shelled out more cash.

I insisted on giving her the money, but she shook her head at me. "Sweetheart, I know things haven't been easy for you. Which family around here is short on cash? Only you."

My financial struggles and my poverty were an open secret in our neighborhood. Clyde bringing women home was no news to anyone. To them, I was a pitiful, tragic figure.

I never hid my troubles but also never spoke of them voluntarily.

Maybe only Clyde thought he was being super good to me, what with all the money he'd given me, more than a lot of folks could bring in their whole lives.

Leaving the airport and watching the planes overhead, I didn't know where Rocky was, but I knew he'd be well-cared for and have a long, happy life. Returning home to the empty house, it felt devoid of warmth. Despite it being summer, the place was chilling to the bone.

up my nutrition and take my medication with more chemotherapy sessions in the pipeline. I

lying in bed, I thought about how starting work the next day might help shake off this feeling of loneliness. Before I knew it, I

until Clyde, reeking of alcohol, climbed into bed, startling me awake. "Babe, why didn't you wait up for

bobbing against my shoulder, his voice carrying a tone of

was pressing down on my sore spots without realizing it. "Babe, why have you lost so much weight? Why aren't you eating? I

continued, "I bought you some cupcakes and iced coffee. Come on. Get up and have some. Eating more will help you gain some weight." He clumsily got up, fetching a

bakery near our school,

the coffee and bring it to my lips, I couldn't help but take a sip. It tasted terrible, all artificial flavor. But I smiled genuinely for the first time in what felt

away my tears. "Once you've had my coffee, you're stuck with me.

feeling dazed. Was he drinking

feeling as if my

Clyde, stop!" I didn't want him to see my wounds, nor did I want to be back in the

looked at me, confused,

a dog hair on the pillow. He frowned slightly, picking it up and squinting at me. "Baby, is your aftergy

more distractions for

my blood running

strength, I slapped hard

at me

door, gasping for breath. "Get out, you bastard.