SAPPHIRE
When I woke up the next morning, my apartment was empty.
All that remained of Zade was the scent of our coupling. I felt as though there was a gaping hole in my heart and tears pricked my eyes. True I had deceived Zade in one way, but my motives were pure. I wanted us all to heal. Randy had betrayed me and made it seem like I did it purely for money, but it was not drunken Randy’s betrayal that hurt me, it was having him remind me of the other woman.
It tore open the old wound of his infidelity and made it bleed all over again. Somehow while Zade was in prison, I’d managed to push those ugly photos into the far recesses of my mind and numb the pain, but now the memory of him spread on the bed with her hurt like hell.
In shock, I realized I’d done what I’d vowed I would not do.
I’d gone and fallen back in love with Zade.
I got out of bed and headed to the shower. Sometimes, I wished I had never chosen to go to that bar after class all those years ago. Then I would not have met Randy, or been introduced to Zade, and had to contend with all the pain that unfolded in the last four years of my life. While they played their games it was me that was getting hurt in the middle. I could not take any more of this. I literally felt as though I was going crazy.
“Fuck you both and damn you to hell!”
I was too confused and hurt to think clearly. I needed some alone time to think. A seed of an idea popped into my head. Yes, that was what I must do.
I showered quickly, then dressed and pulled a small suitcase out of my wardrobe. As I packed, I made some calls. Half an hour later, I headed out of my apartment. I stopped by the building manager’s office briefly to let him know I would be away for a few days and to give him an envelope addressed to Zade to post for me. Outside the sun was shining brightly, but my heart felt heavy and blue. My last task before I drove out of the parking lot was to send a text message to Zade.
Going away for a few days.
I briefly thought of turning off my phone but remembered that they were not the only people who would need to contact me. Instead, I set Zade and Randy’s numbers to mute for all calls and messages. There. Now even if either called or texted, I would not know.
I stopped and filled up at a gas station for the two-hour drive ahead of me. Closer to my destination, I could stop for groceries.
I must have been really stressed and needed the time out, because just leaving the city limits sign behind me made me feel as though a giant weight had rolled off my shoulders. I did not know how anyone could live a life of dishonesty. I was definitely not cut out for it.
I found a radio station playing oldies and let the familiar sounds wash over me until I was half an hour from my destination. I pulled off the highway and followed the signs to the shopping mall a few minutes away. I knew exactly what I needed so I was in and out in less than fifteen minutes.
Being back on the highway turned my thoughts back to what I had left behind. I felt anger at them both come flooding back.
“Forget about them. This week is not about them. Relax and enjoy yourself. Okay?”
I took a few deep breaths and let the anger melt away.
A few minutes later, I turned off the highway. Almost immediately, the road narrowed and I found myself going slower as the road grew bumpy. A few miles later I passed through a set of double gates which stood open. In the distance, I saw the tops of several buildings with vehicles in front. Now I knew why the agent had said I was lucky as I had gotten the last available single. A few miles more and I went around a corner and came to a stop in front of a small cabin. I hooted my horn and a short woman appeared on the porch, her round face wreathed in a massive smile. I couldn’t help responding to her infectious grin.
“Sapphire Stone?” she queried.
I stepped out of the car. “Present.”
“Awesome! I’m Jane. I’ve just got everything done for you. All cleaned, towels and sheets changed, refrigerator plugged in, hot water running. All that was left was your beautiful self and here you are.”
I laughed. For the first time since I saw Zade across the field, I was filled with the feeling I had done the right thing, made the right decision. I reached into the back for my travel bag.
“Let me give you a hand with that.”
“Thanks.”
I handed her the bag and went back for the groceries. She placed the bag just inside the front door and I placed the grocery bags on the kitchen table.
She held up a bunch of keys. “This opens the back door, and this is for the front. We operate on solar here so keep your eye on the battery. If you need to get in touch with the main house or any other emergency services, there is a list of numbers on the wall beside the refrigerator. I know it’s summer so it’s pretty warm, but just in case a chill passes through these hills, there’s firewood. I think that’s it.”