Chapter 3 The Break-up

She slowly walked towards this man she had never seen before and placed her feet equal lengths apart. She tapped him on his shoulder, forcing him to turn around and face her once again.

As she looked into his dark brown eyes, she knew the only way to give herself a real chance at winning her apartment back was honesty. So, she would give him all the honesty she had to give. She was going to share her misery with this stranger, and she hoped the story would soften his heart.

***

EARLIER THAT DAY

As Zoe entered the airport, she saw Kyle standing with his mother Naya as they waited in line to check their baggage. Kyle saw Zoe standing at the entrance doors and he waved her over. She had hoped he would come and assist her with her suitcase, but as always, he was too busy having a conversation with his mother to drop what he was doing.

Kyle had been obsessed with his mother from the moment he met her. He did everything for her, including her shopping, cleaning, and house maintenance. If Naya needed something, he would always choose her over anyone or anything else.

Although this was something that had bothered Zoe for quite some time, she learned to live with it. She knew that marriage was about compromise and acceptance. So, although she would never be first place in his life, she knew she still had an important place. That was good enough for her.

She learned over time that trying to change someone to fit your ideal would never work. So, she stopped trying.

Zoe wore a simple blue dress to compliment her light skin and brown eyes. Her hair, a dark brown, cascaded around her shoulders. Her hips were accentuated by the dress, and comfortable black flats were on her feet. Kyle was dressed in a suit, dark hair slicked back, tall, thin, and handsome, much like always.

As she approached them, she said a kind hello to Naya, while gently pulling Kyle aside. She was nervous and she needed his reassurance. For most of her young adolescent life, Kyle had been that for her. Her reassurance, and her calm after the storm. They had grown up together, fell in love, and had been together ever since.

Five years may not seem much to some people, but to someone like Zoe, that was a long time. She had spent her entire adolescence with Kyle, and she didn't know much else.

"I know you're nervous Zoe. You will see that moving to Manitoba is the best decision for us. I promise. Have some faith in my new job offer, and we will be okay," Kyle said, pulling her into a hug.

His dark hair brushed against her cheek. His white shirt under his suit jacket was already slightly scuffed.

Zoe nodded and pulled away.

As she stood there wondering what her life would be like starting over somewhere new, she saw Naya standing off to the side, motioning her to come over.

Naya had never liked Zoe. Zoe had tried everything imaginable to be nice to this woman, but she never approved of her relationship with Kyle.

When Zoe had broken up with Kyle a few different times over the years, Naya always tried to keep them apart for good.

Kyle had an issue with being loyal, and whenever he made a mistake in this regard, Naya would try and keep them apart.

In most instances, Naya could convince her son to do almost anything, but when it came to Zoe, he never listened.

Every time he was disloyal to Zoe, he would ask for forgiveness and promise to change. Zoe, being the most forgiving soul you would ever meet, would take Kyle back without much thought. But, this last time had nearly ended things between them.

Kyle had slept with his secretary Sabrina. Sabrina had been part of Kyle's life for the past few years as they worked together, and so, when Zoe found out he had cheated on her with Sabrina, it was enough to send her off the edge.

He normally had the common decency to make a mistake with someone she didn't know. Not that she was ever accepting of his mistakes, but this betrayal was different.

There was something more disrespectful about sleeping with someone she knew.

Even though he had hurt her this way several times over the years, she had never done the same to him. She had been loyal throughout it all.

But she had reached her breaking point, and Zoe was ready to call it quits.

In a desperate attempt to get her back, he proposed. It took Zoe a while to make a decision, but she knew in her heart that her love for Kyle couldn't just disappear because he had hurt her. So, she accepted.

Soon after, he was commissioned to move to Manitoba, and he hadn't given her much of a choice but to move with him. He had accepted the job without even consulting her, and when he told her, he wanted a celebration. Zoe knew this meant that her thoughts on this matter wouldn't be considered, and so, she celebrated with him.

It had been over a year since he had done anything to hurt her, and their engagement had been very happy. Zoe thought their rocky past was behind them, and so even though this move meant giving up everything that meant something to her, Kyle meant more.

"It is nice to see you, Zoe. Unfortunately, I have some bad news that may change your decision to move with us to Manitoba" Naya said honestly.

Zoe knew at that moment that this was Naya's last attempt to break them apart.

"What do you mean Naya," asked Zoe calmly.

"Kyle spent last night with Sabrina didn't you know?" Naya said with a proud look on her face.

Regardless of how much Naya disliked her, this was beneath her. Lying in an attempt to get Zoe to cancel her move.

"That is impossible, Naya. Kyle and I were on the phone most of last night. Plus, he wouldn't do that to me again" Zoe said, as she felt her heart beating fast. But deep down, she knew that Kyle could do this again. Yet, she hoped she was wrong.

Naya shook her head in disbelief.

"If you don't believe me, check under his shirt collar on the right-hand side of his neck. He has a few... bite marks. Sabrina has been calling all week" Naya said, gesturing over to Kyle who was now on his phone.

Zoe didn't say another word. She made her way over to Kyle, grabbed his shirt collar as he stood in front of her, and yanked it down.

And there it was. A hickey.

"I can explain Zoe. It's not what you think" Kyle said, hanging up the phone and raising his voice as Zoe began to walk away.

"It is exactly what I think, Kyle. I hope you have a wonderful life in Manitoba. Tell Sabrina I said hello" Zoe said, yelling behind her.