Free Unsevered by Traci Sanders Page A

tone was angry and I was speaking to him like a child as I presented the laundry hamper to him.
    “Then put it there. You already have it in your hand.” He didn’t even look at me and continued to watch his football game.
    “But it’s not my towel, and I shouldn’t have to clean up after you like a child. This is not what I signed up for.”
    “Then maybe you should leave because this is my house and I’ll lay my wet towel any damn place I choose.”
    He had never spoken to me this way.
    Furious and frustrated, I pulled out my suitcase and begab slamming the contents of my drawers into it. He stood in the doorway with his arms folded, watching me.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “I’m going to stay with my mother for a while. I can’t live with you anymore. This just isn’t working.”
    “You’re going to throw away six great months over a stupid towel?” he asked in a condescending tone that made the hairs on my arm raise.
    “Ugghh, you don’t know me at all.”
    I pushed him to the side and grabbed my car keys. Just before my fingers touched the front door, his hand was atop mine in a loving caress. It was warm and comforting, and my rage slowed.
    “Don’t go,” he begged, his mouth almost touching the back of my head. I felt his warm breath spread throughout my hair. “I apologize for yelling at you. I’ve just had a rough day and we’re still getting used to living together. We can make this work, Jewel. I love you.”
    My head lowered and fiery tears painted my cheeks. I turned to him and said.
    “Will you please pick up your wet towel?”
    “Yes, when you’re done with it,” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
    My anger returned. “When I’m done with it. I didn’t…”
    He placed a gentle finger over my lips and said the sweetest words I’d ever heard.
    “I lay the towels down after I dry off from the shower. I use it to wipe up the water mess I drip onto the floor….”
    I mumbled under his finger hold, interrupting him, as usual. “I know, but…”
    He didn’t deter. “And I leave it there for a while just in case you walk into the bathroom. I don’t want you to slip.”
    He smiled and gave me those puppy dog eyes.
    “But I will be happy to go pick it up now that I know the floor is dry and you’re safe.”
    I smiled back with embarrassment as he walked away, but couldn’t help myself from adding, “And would you please put the cap back on the toothpaste while you’re back there? Love you!”
     
    * * *       * * *      * * *
    T iny tears trickle down my face now as I hold the towel against my skin, back in the real world. I chuckle at the thought that such a stupid little thing almost caused me to walk away from the most incredible man I’ve ever known.
    I’d give anything to walk in here and see his wet towel on the floor. I’d even be happy to see his facial hair cover the sink again. Yep, it’s the little things I miss the most.
    I finish packing his things in our room and closet, and it’s all the emotion I can take for now. I need to get on the road. I know his possessions are resting inside those boxes, but at least when I return I won’t have them displayed all around me. I take one last look around with a deep sigh and exit my bedroom. Baby steps , I remind myself.
    Just before I reach the top of the stairway, I turn back to grab my phone off the bed. A sharp pain radiates in my lower stomach. I brush it off as indigestion or gas but the pain soon becomes so intense that I’m barely able to take another step. I look down and a stream of blood trickles down my legs.
    I lower myself to the floor at a gradual pace and crawl the remaining distance back to my room. It takes all the energy I have to pull my phone from the bed to the floor and dial 9-1-1.
    “911, where’s the emergency?”
    “I’m bleeding … not sure … why.” My voice is broken and I’m out of breath. The female voice on the phone says, “I understand, ma’am.