My Rise From the Ashes After Divorce

My world is spiraling out of control over the horrifying reality that my marriage was a ticking time bomb, and I had no way of defusing it. "I can't believe this is happening. I should have left when I had the chance. Now, look at me lying here in 'All this blood! All this blood!" Tears roll down my cheek while adrenaline courses through my veins, making it difficult to process the pain I feel. Lying on the floor, I am trapped in a nightmarish scenario with no escape.

I hear sirens in the distance, and urgent voices call my name. Through my tear-filled eyes, I see emergency workers rush toward me. The anxious expressions of the EMS team fuel my desire to survive, reminding me I am not alone in this fight, even as pain threatens to consume me.

The anxious voice of Jake, my brother-in-law, urgently asks an EMS technician, "How is she?" The technician replies, "We need to get her to the hospital. She's lost a lot of blood." His words hit me hard, deepening the dread in my chest.

As they gently lift me onto the stretcher, my watery eyes search for my husband. I see our shattered wedding photo on the floor and a wall damaged by impact. I called for my husband. A male voice responds, but it isn't Blake; it is Jake. "I'm here, Treasure," he says, squeezing my hand tightly to provide support as they wheel me toward the ambulance.

When I open my eyes again, I find myself in a hospital room. A nurse approaches me, and in that moment, I feel a sense of relief; I'm alive.

"Good morning, Mrs. Crenshaw. I'll get the doctor in here to see you. Everything will be explained to you. It will be okay."

"Thank you."

The doctor comes over, "Good morning, Mrs. Crenshaw. I'm happy you are awake. Let me check your vitals."

The only question I have for the doctor is, "Is my baby okay?"

"I'm sorry, you lost the baby; you had a miscarriage."

When I was younger, I lost my parents in a fire. I thought I couldn't experience a greater loss, but this emotional sadness and pain were so intense that it was unimaginable. My lips tremble, fighting back the tears as I ask, "Is my husband in the waiting room?"

"Ma'am, the only person who was here earlier was your brother-in-law."

Hearing that Blake hadn't visited the hospital, it was devastating. The suffering I'm enduring makes me feel so helpless. I burst into tears, turning my face into my pillow. Confined to this hospital bed, unable to confront the husband I married, now, bittersweet memories flood my mind. "How could I be so blind as to marry a heartless man like Blake Crenshaw?"

It's a complicated scenario with no simple answers. I had recently attained independence and intended to move out of my uncle's house, now that I was employed steadily. My uncle was unhappy with my choice to leave, as it interfered with his expectations of using me for money to settle his gambling debts.

Unbeknownst to me, there was a manipulator with an elaborate scheme to exert influence over me and maintain his grip, lurking in the background. I had become accustomed to shady men looking for my uncle to collect debt. So, it wasn't surprising when this man appeared several nights a week, always clad in dark suits and his eyes concealed behind dark glasses, relentlessly pursuing my uncle. It was during his last visit that I started to question his motives.

"Innocent little lady, I see your uncle never told you that you shouldn't talk to strangers?"

"Sir, you appear at my front door so often, I can hardly call you a stranger. But my uncle isn't here. So, please stop disturbing my sleep."

He chuckled. "You aren't afraid?"

"No, should I be?"

With a mischievous grin, he replied. "No, not of me..."

"Loo,k sir, I'm tired and I must get up early for work. So good night," I shut the door.

Months went by, and the stranger didn't come back. I thought my uncle had paid him. Until one day he came home beaten to a bloody pulp, begging me relentlessly for money."

"Come on, Treasure! My limbs are at stake!"

"You promised me you were going to quit gambling." I cried out.

"You should feel obligated to help me after my only brother sacrificed his life to save you. I should have put you in an orphanage, but I didn't because we are family."

"This isn't how families treat one another!"

"Please, Treasure. Do you want to see me cut up into tiny pieces?"

I always felt cornered to give him my savings. I was desperate to escape this situation. Months later, my uncle mentions a man named Blake Crenshaw.

"Treasure, have you ever heard of Crenshaw Banking in the northern part of town?"

"Yes, I'm aware of the bank. Don't tell me you robbed that bank."

"No, I know one of the owners, and he tells me he would like to take you out."

"What! Why would the owner of a bank want to take me out? He's never met before."

"Treasure, I don't know and that's not important. Don't you want to experience what it's like to live a good life? A man like Blake Crenshaw doesn't come around every day. It's just a dinner date; give him a chance

He saw my puzzled expression. "Hey! He might be what you are looking for."

I pushed my reservations aside and concluded it's just a simple dinner date; nothing will probably come of it. So, I told my uncle I would accept.

As I lay here in this hospital bed. Now I realize that was the biggest mistake in my life.

That Saturday evening, he was to take me out, I waited for thirty minutes, before a sleek black sports car with tinted windows parked in front of the house.

"He's late." I muttered agitatedly.

But when this over six feet tall, handsome guy gets out of the vehicle. All my frustrations melted like butter.

My uncle peeked his head into my room, a teasing smile spreading across his face. "Did I hear you grumbling about your date, Treasure?"

"Uncle Tony, has this man ever been here before?"

"I don't think so." He chuckled mischievously.

I adjusted my conservative calf-length pencil skirt and white silk blouse.

"Don't worry; you are just what he's looking for," he said, looking me up and down with an approving nod.

"Oh, really? I hope I can keep up with him. He seems... different," I replied, glancing at my reflection in the mirror as I fixed the black, red, and white scarf around my neck.

"Different how? Niece, do you think he's handsome?" Clearly intrigued.

"Very," I admitted, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Then that's all that matters."

"But he's just so well put together."

"You'll do great," my uncle says, giving me a gentle nudge toward the door.

I watched this man glide toward me. Suddenly, I felt underdressed. My semi-casual outfit paled in comparison to how he appeared. I felt like a fixer-upper who needed complete renovation.

"Hi, Treasure, I'm Blake Crenshaw," he introduced himself, his deep tenor voice triggering butterflies to tussle in my stomach for the first time.

"Hi, nice to meet you," I replied, my nerves bubbling under the surface.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, extending his hand.

I nodded, connecting my hand to his outstretched one. After dating this charming man for a month, he proposed. He had swept me off my feet, so I said yes. We shared a beautiful private ceremony in Cancun, his twin brother Jake was his best man and our witness. With such a perfect beginning, how did I end up engulfed in a sea of pain, lying in a hospital bed?

A few Years Earlier:

I sat at the kitchen table, lost in thought as I traced the rim of my coffee mug. Blake stood at the counter, absorbed in his phone, and I wondered who had his full attention. The silence stretched on, thick with the tension that had been there since morning.

"Blake," I finally said, my voice soft but firm. "We need to talk."

He sighed and put the phone down. "Treasure, what now? I thought we had already gone over this."

"Gone over what? The fact that you barely look at me anymore. That every conversation feels like a reheated argument?" I leaned forward, desperate for him to meet my gaze. "When did we lose our way?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture I had come to recognize as a sign of frustration. "It's just...you're never around. You spend all your time at that job, and when you come home, you don't have time for me and my needs."

"I'm working hard because I want to build a life for us, too. You know that. It's nice living here with your dad and brother, but I was hoping we could one day buy a house of our own and start a family."

"Why do we need a house of our own, when you can't take care of this one?"

I felt my heart race, a mix of anger and sadness bubbling to the surface. "I would like my own home, Blake. Besides, I enjoy my job."

"But what about this marriage? You are too busy to pay attention to the things a wife is supposed to be doing around here."

"What about you? Aren't you also caught up with work? You don't leave any room or time for us to bond. Most evenings when I return home, I end up chatting more with your brother than with you. Blake, you arrive home after I'm already in bed."

"Look, I didn't marry you so you can be away from this house 8 hours a day. I make enough money to take care of things around here. It's like this marriage is competing with your career. I've endured enough. It's time you quit working and focus on this household."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Blake, that's not fair. I feel I've been doing a good job as a working wife."

He leaned back in his chair, "Well, I'm telling you that you are failing."

I felt the weight of his words in my chest. "It's not that I don't care about my husband's feelings, but I didn't know where this was coming from.

"I just... I thought you'd understand how important my career was to me. But since it seems to be a problem, I'm asking now."

I swallowed hard. "What can we do to fix this? To make it better?"

He sighed deeply, "I think it's best you quit working."

"You want me to quit my job? Okay, what about you? Maybe you can make some changes. Some weekends-no work, no phone, no distractions. Just us."

I could see on Blake's face that he despised the suggestion, but he begrudgingly agreed, mumbling. "Okay."

"We have to change together if we truly are partners," I state, quickly transitioning into being a full-time stay-at-home wife. Did our circumstances improve?

"Blake, I wish you could understand how lonely it is here. I spend all day in this house and feel so disconnected."

"It's not like I'm out having fun all the time."

"I know you work hard, but I can't help feeling inadequate sometimes. It's like you don't appreciate what I do around here."

"I do appreciate it, but could you start taking my shirts to the cleaners?"

"See, I can't help feeling inadequate sometimes."

"You're too sensitive. I'm going to take a shower."

Despite my efforts to be an excellent wife, Blake still came home late. But tonight, I remain awake. My body had been starving for my husband's touch for weeks.

"Blake, I was thinking, maybe we should have a baby, start a family."

He chuckled sultrily, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Is it working?"

Blake started unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you waiting on? Come to me, Blake."

*****

One month and a half later, the test validated my hopes; I was overjoyed I couldn't wait to share the news with him.

"Blake! I planned something special for tonight."

Blake barely looked up from his phone. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

I sighed, "I reserved us a table at that Italian restaurant, not too far from your office, that you love. I thought it would be nice to celebrate... just the two of us."

"Treasure, I can't tonight, I have an important meeting to finalize some paperwork. You know how it is."

My face was filled with disappointment. I paused thinking of how to overcome this obstacle. "Blake, I don't mind waiting until your meeting is over. It's important to me. Please baby, meet me at our favorite spot for dinner. Okay?"

Blake, continue scrolling through his phone, "Alright, I'll be there when I'm done."

Later that evening, I arrived early at the restaurant, excitement bubbling within me. The table was beautifully set with flickering candles, creating a romantic atmosphere. I imagined sharing my big news with Blake, picturing his joyful reaction.

Finally, I spotted him. He looks so handsome, in his charcoal gray suit, "Oh, he got me flowers.' In an instant, everything changed. He became transfixed by a stunning blonde in a tight black dress, handing her the bouquet. My heart sank as I watched him pull her into an embrace, kissing her passionately.

Shocked and confused, I struggled to comprehend for a second. Blake was so enchanted by her that he was completely oblivious to my presence. My eyes followed them, laughing together as she grasps his hand, guiding him toward her table. Another wave of shock washed over me. I recognized her as Claire, his assistant. I struggled to catch my breath as he trailed behind her like a dog in heat, apparently unaware or he didn't care that I was in the same room. The hurt and embarrassment I felt were intense, making it nearly impossible to think straight.

But I knew I had reached my breaking point

Enough was enough. I'm done with being the perfect wife.

Without a second thought, I pushed my chair back and rose from the table, striding confidently toward where they sat. Claire caught sight of me, her smile faltering. Good.

"Blake," I said firmly. "Is this the meeting I was supposed to be waiting for to end?"

Blake looked up, surprise etched on his face. "Uh, no. This is a celebration party."

"You were supposed to meet me for dinner. Remember?"

"Yeah, I meant to call you about that."

"Can you excuse yourself while I talk to my husband," I say, looking at Claire.

"Don't get up Claire. Listen Treasure, I can't leave right now, it would be rude after Claire has planned all this, you can go home, and I'll see you when I'm done."

"What? So, you sitting here telling me that this is more important than being with me?"

Blake gave no reply, as he lifted his glass of alcohol to his lips.

That's when I saw Claire put a smirk on her face.

"Oh, is something funny?"

At that moment an intense fire rose through my body as I clenched my fist, and out of nowhere my hand flew up.

Blake's reaction was immediate and protective. He reached up and seized hold of my wrist, halting my movement with surprising strength.

"Have you lost your mind! Treasure, I told you to go home. I will talk to you later." He said firmly, his lips bawled up.

"Let me go!" I snatched my wrist from his grip. I knew I was upset as my eyes began to water. I had to restrain myself. I almost forgot that physically, I'm in no condition to be in an altercation and win.

So, with a final glance of disappointment at Blake, I turned and walked toward the exit. The valet signaled me to a taxi.

Upon arriving home, I was engulfed by a sense of feeling overwhelmed. The burdens of the world seemed to weigh even heavier today. I trudged through the doorway, feeling my heart sink deeper with every step I took. As I rounded the corner, I accidentally collided with Jake, my brother-in-law. His friendly smile sharply contrasted with the chaos within me.

"Hey, Treasure! Wow! Look at you! I almost didn't recognize you. You look wonderful tonight, no, beautiful," he remarked, studying me with pure admiration. Although I appreciated his compliment, I felt anything but beautiful. Before I could reply, he inquired about the reason for my new look. Tears welled in my eyes, and I could no longer contain myself. In front of Jake, I broke down in tears, allowing my pain to flow freely.

Jake's expression shifted instantly. Concern etched into his features, he stepped closer, with our faces only inches apart. I pulled my watery eyes away from him to stare at the floor. He hadn't meant to make eye contact at that moment, but I could tell he couldn't help himself as he stared into my face, with wet tear drops hanging from my lashes.

Moved with pity, he wrapped me in his embrace to comfort me. He could see the pain in my eyes that I could not hide, and he wanted to help. Speaking softly, he said, "Please, Treasure, tell me what happened to make you feel this way?" I shook my head, trying to rein in my runaway emotions and tears. "Not now, Jake. I can't talk about it right now."

But I barely had a moment to appreciate his kindness before the reality of who he was had hit me like a slap. I wasn't just hurting; I was vulnerable in front of Blake's brother. Panic set in, and I needed to escape the situation. "I just need a minute," I stammered, making an excuse to move toward my bedroom. "I'm tired. Good night, Jake." I could feel his worried eyes on me as I left, but I had to get away

Once in my room, I thought to myself, "Why did I have to break down in front of Jake of all people? Oh my, why did he hug me that way?" I knew we had a warm relationship, so it was no surprise that he was concerned to see me like this. I felt I had no right to pull him into my sorrow, but I was too far gone. I had been so careful not to let my guard down all these years and to keep our marital problems private, but now I was falling apart. From our previous conversations, I knew Jake saw the fine cracks in our marriage and was upset with his brother for how he treated me, and now I had only added to his anger. I should have done a better job at holding myself together.

That's when I heard a soft knock on my door. When I looked around, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. I was caught in a vulnerable moment as I hastily searched for my robe. I hadn't anticipated him following me to my bedroom, but I saw him standing there as soon as I looked over. I was momentarily stunned, feeling a rush of embarrassment, but I couldn't ignore how my body responded to the curiosity in his gaze.

I quickly wrapped myself in a robe, clearing my throat to mask the chaos within me. Jake's concern filled the space between us when I opened the door. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, a flicker of worry still evident in his eyes. I forced a smile, but it felt like I was lying to both him and myself.

"Yeah, I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me." His gaze lingered, and he knew I was hiding the truth. But at that moment, I wanted to convince myself that I could be fine, even when I clearly wasn't.

That night I sat in my dark bedroom pacing back and forth feeling a heavy sense of tension while waiting for Blake to come home. For months, I had sensed something different about him. And what happened tonight, I know Claire was behind it. She clearly wanted me to find out about their relationship. After all, why would she throw a celebration at the same restaurant where I was supposed to meet Blake? The pain and disappointment were almost too much to handle; my worst fears seemed to be coming true. Despite my efforts to nurture our love, it felt like it was slipping away from me. As I wrapped my arms around my stomach, I wasn't feeling well. I realized that this sense of comfort felt out of reach, especially after witnessing what felt like a betrayal.

I stumbled over to the chair next to our bed taking a seat, is this truly what our marriage has become? I've given up so much for him: my career, my dreams, my precious time. Does Blake genuinely believe I'm too naïve to uncover the truth? And the connection he shares with her is clear. How long has this been going on, and how far have they taken it? Had it gone far beyond kissing? What I was imagining was making me feel dizzy.

Blake finally walked into the bedroom. He looked surprised when he opened the door and saw me sitting there.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?" he said, clicking on the bright lights.

"You've made it impossible for me to sleep in peace anymore. How could you disregard, and humiliate me this way in front of her?"

"I didn't disregard you; I told you we would talk about it at home."

"Blake! You put a work celebration before meeting your wife for dinner!"

"To be honest I forgot about our date. Look, it's no big deal."

I yelled at him, "No big deal! Do you see what is going on? Claire is trying to ruin our marriage!"

Blake burst into laughter. "Now I know you must be joking. What does she have to do with this marriage?"

"Did you tell her you were meeting me for dinner tonight?"

"Yeah, maybe, I don't know. What's that got to do with anything?"

"I'm going out of my mind, trying to figure out what's going on here! Please Blake, put my mind at ease and tell me the truth. Are you sleeping with your assistant Claire?