Page 9 - By Any Other Name Spring 2018

Spring 2018 Page 8

…Man is an Empty Shell, tually, she slowed. I could tell her fire was fizzling out, and
personally, I didn’t mind. I always thought that the motel scene
Continued From Page 7. had a certain allure to it. For years, I was eager to try it out,
and she slowly lost her rationality, blaming the “reckless” and after I trained myself to ignore the stench coming from
nineteen-year-old me for the sonograms whose predic- the room across the hall and the noises from the floor above,
tions never came true. For seven years, we followed our it was certainly a fascinating experience. The bed was ban-
patterns, our uninteresting, familiar habits, so when I re- daged with duct tape over the area where a few loose springs
ceived her note, a part of me felt a sense of relief. This kept popping out, mold creepily overtook the shower head,
“thing” had been dragging out for almost two years, and and the hissing of the cockroaches sang me to sleep at night.
I was exhausted from all of the inaction taking place. Amidst my motel vacation, I continued to wait for
At the beginning, the woman cursed out the ways that woman’s manifested vengeance to come, but it nev-
she would make me pay: financially, socially, spiritually. (I er did. For ten months, I adjusted to my new residence.
wasn’t entirely sure how she would manage the last one, but Around month five, I was laid off from my job. Ralph fixed
that woman always did find a way). Still, I didn’t understand me a up a job at his auto shop, but since I have never
her ambitious threats nor the sentiments prompting them. I been mechanically inclined, he stuck me on accounting. I
assumed this behavior would pass, as it often did, and it was didn’t mind. Assistance prompted by pity is still assistance.
only after I was evicted from our home and relocated to the In the second week of July, two months after I
motel off the side of the highway that some of my confusion started my new job, the phone in my room rang. I didn’t
began to clear up. However, everything really clicked when pick up. The Chinese restaurant two blocks over kept mis-
she burst into my office to personally deliver the first of many taking my room number with someone else’s, and I didn’t
documents addressed from Munson & Hunds Divorce Law- feel like arguing about egg rolls again; but, this time the
yers. The speed at which she number was different. For
ripped out a pen from her back three weeks, this unknown
pocket would have stunned caller rang again and again,
even the best gunfighter in but I let it ring out each time. Af-
the west. She was quick like ter a while, the noise became
a viper and stubborn as a soothing. Out of curiosity, I de-
mule, refusing to leave un- cided to pick it up on the third
til I signed. I’ve got to admit, Wednesday of the month, but
that woman was determined, on the other side of the line, it
and since I only had a thirty was silent. I picked up again
minute lunch break, I did. on Friday, and again nothing
She stood in my of- but silence. In that moment,
fice an extra three minutes, I wondered what my soon-
dumbfoundedly staring at me. to-be ex-wife was doing?
My buddy Ralph later sug- On Sunday, it was muggy,
gested that she was offering so I stayed inside. The new
me one last chance to, “con- weather girl, Vivian, predicted
fess my wrongdoings” and, heavy showers and advised
“Ask for forgiveness.” I can’t me to avoid going outside.
understand why she would, (Vivian was a better fore-
since I never did anything to caster than Mark because it
get her so hot and bothered; actually looked like it was go-
so, once she ended her one- ing to get rough out there).
sided staring contest, she The crackling of thunder
huffed and left quietly. I no- buzzed and hummed while
ticed she brushed away a fall- shots of lightning pierced the
ing tear and, for a moment, I sky, leaving white streaks
wondered whether I was the against the blackness of
cause. Then my work phone the night. For some reason,
rang, so I returned to my work, that night was the first time
forgetting the whole thing. I had noticed how beautiful
Within a matter of the chaos was. Then I slept
weeks after the office incident, and dreamt that my soon-to-
she removed all of my belong- (Above) Resurface, Sydney Vaughan, Grade 12, Photography. be ex-wife was sleeping too.
ings from our apartment and
kicked me out. She always struck quickly, but even- Man is an Empty Shell, Continued on Page 10 ...