I could hear the accusatory tone in her voice, when she asked, “And you’ve been feeling like this just recently?”
“Come on, what did I just say? This hasn’t just come about. I’ve been feeling like this for a long time, Nora. Stop making it seem like this is all news to you and that you didn’t have a clue about what was going on.” I paused for a moment then said to her, “Look, we both need this. I’m sure in time you’ll see that things between us just aren’t how they’re supposed to be when two people decide to spend a lifetime together.”
“So what am I supposed to do Brad? Wait for you to get a clue about what you have, or just let you go?”
“I’m already gone, Nora.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“It means I’m done. I don’t want to string you along, and I don’t expect you to wait around for me to get a clue, as you’ve said, so what we had is over, Nora. We’re both free to find the right person that fits us because we aren’t it for each other.”
There was another pause, then I knew what was coming… the claws.
“You’re seeing her again, aren’t you? That’s, it isn’t it?”
“No, I’m not seeing anyone, Nora. You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I, Braddock? I’ll bet you couldn’t wait to get there and see her.” She paused, then laughed. “Oh my God. You’ve been seeing her all this time, haven’t you? Behind my back, you’ve been fucking that bitch.”
I shook my head. “I’m done talking, Nora. Goodbye.”
I hung up just as I heard her say my name. I tossed my phone on the bed next to me, fell back against the pillows and closed my eyes again. I don’t know what’s up with my life or what I’ve done to deserve this, but this shit is for the birds.
*******
I slept for about five hours, which I really needed. I’d been on rotation for days, and I hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. Residency was a bitch, but, now that I was done, I needed a break. I completed my residency at Houston Methodist Hospital in their Cardiology center, and I accepted a three-year fellowship with the top surgical team there, which was great for me. I was thankful that I got the opportunity to work with my mentor and advisor, and I was extremely thrilled for the break between the fellowship and finishing my residency. For some reason, my life felt like a damn roller coaster that seemed to never stop. What I told Nora was the truth; I needed this break. Quite honestly, I really needed to separate myself from her and our old life.
She and I were together off and on for years. However, the last two years it seemed that we were finally heading somewhere. She had my back during my residency and sometimes I felt if it wasn’t for her support I would have lost my mind. But these last few months, things started to change.
We were unraveling quickly. She was starting to take on a role that I never asked her to do. She started to turn me off with the way she was trying to run my life. I already had a mother. I didn’t need another one. She was picking out my clothes for me, telling me what to eat, and who we should hang out with. She even made dinner dates with co-workers that I couldn’t stand, behind my back. This might sound petty to you but the hell if I’m going to have someone hold my balls for me. I’m more than capable of doing that shit on my own. No, what I needed from her was a helpmate. I needed someone in my corner at all times. I needed a best friend, someone I could lean on whenever I needed to, especially when stressed.
To be blunt, I wanted a woman to know me. A woman that knew everything there was to know about me. She would know and understand that there would be days when I needed a blowjob to take my mind off of the messed up shit in my life, and, in the same token, just know when I needed her to screw my brains out. I thought Nora was that woman, but, apparently, she was not. As it seemed, this woman didn’t exist.
As I unpacked, my brother called and asked if I wanted to meet him for dinner. I told him I had plans of my own later, but I’d call him when I was done. I threw on some workout clothes and headed for the fitness gym for a quick workout. I ended up running into a few guys I knew from high school and decided to play a few games of basketball. We ended up playing about six games before I called it a night.
I started to call my brother and tell him never mind about dinner. I didn’t feel like eating much though, but I could do for a drink or two. So I texted my brother, telling him to meet me at McGinley’s, a bar and grille dive we used to frequent when I lived in Dallas. The place was located in Plano, west of Route 75 on Parker, and was a privately owned local business with the best drinks, grilled food and atmosphere I know. When I walked in, I inhaled, and all the memories of my past flooded me.