Chapter 3 AWAY FROM HOME.

CHAPTER 3: AWAY FROM HOME.

Michael looked at the divorce paper, feeling terrible.

'So I was this bad huh? Bad to the point the woman who once loved me no longer wants me in her life again? What sort of monster was I?'

Negative thoughts flooded his head. He sighed and looked at his wife.

"Clarice, I am so sorry for all the terrible things I did to you. I don't know what I may have put you through, but if you could please give me another chance to"

"Hold it right there!" the woman said interrupting rudely. "You've been given enough chances, so there's no going back this time. Just sign the divorce and let's all be done with this."

"Please, Clarice. Let's try to work things out," Michael pleaded.

"Work things out?" Clarice snorted. "That's what you said before we went on the boat. But do you know what happened?"

Michael stood speechless, already knowing she was about to say something negative he did.

"You picked a fight with me over something so trivial and ended up hitting me. In defense, I pushed you away, and that's how you got that concussion."

Clarice wiped her teary eyes, sniffing, as she looked hatefully at Michael. He could see it in her eyes. But with all that she said, he couldn't bring himself to accept that he was a wife-beater. He knew in his heart of hearts that he could never do such a thing.

"I know I don't deserve it, but please, reconsider Clarice. Please, you're my wife."

"If she gets back with you, it'll be over my dead body," Mr Donald said resolutely.

"Clarice, I've been a witness to all that you've been through. But for the sake of the three years of marriage, reconsider, just as Michael's asking. We're not perfect," Dan said.

Clarice glared at him with so much fury that he took his gaze away from her.

Michael sighed, wiping his face, gaining some relief from the headache he felt. He knew it was pointless begging any further.

"Alright then," he nodded. "Since this is what you want, I'll give it to you. Hand me a pen."

Clarice reached into her bag and handed him a pen. Michael sat down and read through the paper a bit, and went on to sign the divorce, not caring to know what the divorce settlement included.

"I truly am sorry, for everything, Clarice," he said as he handed the signed paper back to her.

He walked back into his bedroom got his wallet, and headed downstairs gently. As he walked outside, Dan accompanied him outside.

"I'm so sorry pal. This is awful," Dan sighed disappointedly. "So, what are you going to do?" Dan asked him.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll just get a motel or something, and figure out the rest later," he replied, exhaustedly.

A taxi passed by and he beckoned on it, so it stopped. Before he got in, he turned and looked at the house that for a week was his home. But not anymore.

"Call me via this number, so we can meet up later. I need to go take care of something," Dan said, handing him his card.

Michael nodded in acknowledgment, and then the taxi drove off.

"So, where are we headed, sir?"

"To any motel," Michael responded. The taxi driver looked through the rearview mirror and saw how gloomy his passenger was. But since he didn't want to be nosy, he shoved aside his concern.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Mr Donald and his wife had their hands over their daughter's shoulders.

"Good riddance to him. You'll never have to worry about him. We're here to support you on your journey to recovery," Mrs Donald said.

"Yes, sweetie. We're here for you," Mr Donald affirmed. "He's lucky he didn't put up a fight. He's even more lucky we didn't press charges. I wonder why you stopped us from doing that sweetie."

"There was no need for that," Clarice responded in a childish tone.

"All that matters now is you're safe," Mr Donald said, caressing her hair affectionately.

______________

Michael sat on the bed in the motel he lodged in. He was sick of moping and feeling bad about himself. He needed to get out and be active.

He hadn't even dressed the wound afresh for two days. So, he needed to get out. He had been indoors for two whole days.

"I must have had a job. How else was I able to own that house, and even that boat?" he reasoned out.

"I need to find out more about myself. Not having any idea about myself is killing me," he finally resolved.

He looked at the side table beside him and picked up the card Dan gave him. He wanted to dial his number but refrained from doing so.

He then grabbed his wallet and headed out. He first went to a pharmacy and had his concussion tended to. He saw that it had healed reasonably well, but still chose to have it dressed one more time.

As he headed out when he was done from the pharmacy, he boarded a taxi immediately.

He told the taxi driver to take him to Dan's residence. Dan had told him where he lived previously, asking him to come over, if he needed to. But he hadn't taken him up on that offer.

While in transit, he wondered why certain folks threw glances at him. But he ignored them.

Arriving at his destination, he alighted from the vehicle and paid the driver. He stood before the house and sighed softly.

As he walked to the front porch, he wondered why the front porch looked unwelcoming with things kept carelessly there.

He got to the door and rang the doorbell. But there was no answer. He rang the doorbell a couple of times, and there was still no answer. He saw that the lights within were on so someone was definitely in. So, he rang it one more time.

"Just a minute."

Michael recognized the voice. It was Dan's.

"You're quite fast. I wasn't expecting the delivery this soo-"

Dan halted his speech as he unlocked and swung the door open. His eyes widened in utter shock when he saw it was Michael at the door.

"Hey, Dan."

"He- Hey, Mike. What are you doing here?"

"I came so we could talk. I hope you don't mind?" Michael asked.

"Uh- Yeah. The- That's not a problem," Dan replied, looking into the house.

Michael noticed how fidgety Dan got, and wondered what was wrong. He was putting on a bathrobe.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I have something to take care of-"

"I hope it's the delivery guy. Because boy, I've worked up quite an appetite after the nonstop pounding you gave-"

Clarice froze in shock when she sighted Michael at the door.

Michael saw that she was putting on just a bikini. He couldn't believe what his eyes beheld.