1 A Heavy Wave Of Demise

The tears would not stop rolling down her eyes. Emily sniffed in, and the air around her choked.

Her eyes were puffy and sad, drenched in tears. "He still--still hasn't come home, sis May. I'm so worried!"

She heard her sister in law mutter something but she had not been talking to her.

Emily heaved in and called for attention, repeating her cries and worry.

"I'm busy, Emily." May growled. "Call me tomorrow. And stop worrying about Jake. He's not a baby you know." She said and laughed again.

Someone else was with her because May continued. "Maybe it's time Jake realized he's just tired of poor Ms Emily. Ha!"

With her sadness turning into anger, Emily hung up quickly. Her sobs were soft yet painful at the same time. She swallowed a hard lump in her throat, and heaved out a shaky breath.

Her in-laws despised her for marrying their son and brother, Jake Hilton. And none of that would have mattered if not that Jake hated her to the core!

He was disgusted by her and he never tried to hide that fact. She was poor and from the gutters after all...why wouldn't he hate her?

Their marriage was only a matchmaking shit. Her mother, the great Clara Tinsel had provided the deal when she met an uncle of Jake at the bar one night.

"Where the hell can you be, Jake?" Emily sighed again, trying to catch her breath as she feared it would seize if she continued to cry. 

Jake had left for work the day before, and from that morning till the present day noon, she hadn't heard a word from him. Oh she has tried all she could do. Sent in words of pleas to the cops, called everyone she has ever found a link or connection with to Jake...including those who weren't even fond of her!

She was still shaking in fear when the door crept open. With speed she didn't know she had in her, she raced forward to see who it was.

He looked unkempt, his blue eyes heavy with dark spots circling around. He'd certainly changed his clothes, wearing something more casual; simple shorts and a satin material shirt with a palm.

His hand went through his rough hair like a brush. She was watching him like he was a ghost. Jake's eyes caught Emily's on him, startling him a bit.

Emily saw now that it was him and not a ghost. Her feet, though weak and wobbling, made its way over to him and she squeezed him into a tight hug.

"You're alright..." she said in a soft whisper. 

Jake didn't hug her back. "I'm tired. Need rest." The words came out like he'd forced himself to say them...which he probably did because he never felt he owed her any explanation.

Emily's face contorted into a deep frown. "Excuse you? Where they hell have you been, Jake!" She yelled out. Her eyes glistened with unleashed tears that she quickly blinked away. "I--I was so worried about--"

"You thought I would have died? Please, I don't have time for this." Jake snorted, then forced himself away from her grip and was heading straight upstairs.

Emily was now certain he was not dead, nor was he in any sort of trouble like kidnapping or near murder. Anger was now coursing through her bloodstream.

"Jake, get back here!" She demanded, surprised her own voice could even be that loud. 

He ignored but she raced forward to meet him. "Why didn't you pick up? Where have you been! I need answers, okay?"

Again came the silence. This time, Emily could have sworn he'd even rolled his eyes.

"I demand an answer from you because I am your wife! If you're tired of this godforsaken marriage, then just say so! I'll be on my way, really."

"Then go! Why should I care?"

"Why should you care? We are supposed to be married so you ought to care! I am your wife and I hate the fact that you treat me like crap because your own mother never showed you any love!"

"Take that back you...!" 

It happened so fast. First his hand had been in his pockets, next, it was only a few seconds away from landing on her cheeks. She screamed out loud, scared his hand would have landed on her face.

Then, something made him stop. Whatever it was, she was glad.

Hot tears streamed down her eyes. He would have actually hit her? What kind of a monster had she married...

"Do whatever you want, just leave me be. Damn it! You are the very bane of my existence. I regret the day I married you!"

The words touched her, piercing straight through her soul. The light in her eyes dimmed to a flicker behind tears.

"How dare you, Jake?" Her voice was heavy with sadness. Emily became racked by choking sobs.

He said nothing, no apologies whatsoever, then sauntered up the stairs to his room.

For more than a year now, they never even shared the same room! 

Emily crept low and buried her head on her legs with her hands. 

"You are right, Jake. It's over...I too regret the day I married you..."

***

That evening, Emily called her mother with tears streaming down her eyes. She had promised herself not to cry again over her marriage, but then again, she was sad.

"I was wondering," she began, "I want to come back home. Mom, Jake nearly hit me today. He came back finally but he wouldn't tell me where he was--"

"Nearly hit you?" Her mother yelled out.

Emily sniffed. "Yes, mom! He would have, but something stopped him."

"Wow. And is that enough reason for you to divorce him?" Clara said, causing Emily to frown. 

"What do you mean, mom? You know from the very onset that I agreed to this wedding because of you!"

"And now you don't bloody care anymore! I hope you remember that we have nothing."

"Because you gambled all our money away!" Emily spat out, anger coursing through her veins.

"Stay with him for two more years. Then we would have had a fortune off of them--"

"This is about my happiness, mom. It's over between us. Besides, Jake is as tired as I am in this marriage. I have been updating you of every pain and shame I've been feeling since the day one--"

"Then continue to beg him! Beg him and put up with him. He hasn't killed you yet, has he? Oh my goodness, Emily. If you leave him, I'm done for. You're my only daughter and you are supposed to be a money making machine for me!"

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as a tear rolled down her cheek."Even at the expense of my happiness??"

"Who cares!"

Emily couldn't believe her mother, but her mind had been made up. She hardened her face. "It's over between us, mother. Finally, it is."

Emily sighed then rephrased her statement just so her mother could really understand her pain. "Hey mom?" She called out softly, "I've ended things with Jake, for real this time, and I don't know where to go…" She said with tears in her eyes. 

She could feel her mother's anger through the deafening silence that shook the air. Then, Clara barked out. "Go to your aunt's place then, there in the city. Find a job and manage your life there. Don't come here to embarrass me, please!"

Clara hung up, leaving Emily all to herself. Sitting there alone, misery was written all over her face. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold, metal fist, and tears stung her eyes like shards of glass.

***

Jake woke up the next morning, wishing he didn't have to...not after what had happened the last two nights ago. He was even surprised he was able to get any sleep at all.

His head was aching and he could tell it was because of the drinks he took the day before. Hopefully, his wife would have prepared some mixture for a hangover. She was almost too good with her cooking skills, knowing the right soup for headache and the right dishes as well.

"Boyy am I starving!" He went down the stairs, surprised his nose was not heavy from the pleasant aroma he usually woke up to.

He saw one of the maids in the house and asked where his wife was. 

"Sir, she left very early this morning. As early as 5am! She carried her bags and well, disappeared! We wanted to wake you but she said not to."

"Carried her bags?" Jake frowned. 

"She left you this letter too." The maid handed it over to him. He took it from her and opened it immediately.

It was a signed divorce paper and a goodbye note!

Jake couldn't believe his eyes. "Emily, where the hell did you go?" He groaned.

He decided to call her line but after more than ten attempts, it was unreachable! A dark cloud of grief descended on him.

Could this mean that...she had finally left??