Chapter 5 - The Unraveling of Daniel
As the movers loaded the final box onto the second truck, Daniel followed me out to the driveway.
He looked smaller than he ever had. The arrogant city employee who had told me to "adapt to his family" was completely gone, replaced by a desperate, panicked man.
“Emily, wait,” he begged, catching up to me near the cab of the truck. “Can we just talk? Please?”
I stopped and turned to face him, crossing my arms. “We talked on Saturday, Daniel. You told me your mother’s blood pressure was more important than my dignity. You told me a wife has to submit.”
“I was stressed!” he blurted out, wiping sweat from his forehead. “My mom was pressuring me! I didn't know how to handle her! I love you, Emily. We spent three years together!”
“You loved my paycheck,” I corrected him coldly. “You loved that I fixed your mother’s life so you didn't have to carry the financial burden. You used my career and my money to look like a dutiful son.”
He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Look, I talked to my supervisor at the municipal office yesterday. People at work are talking, Emily. Someone from your family posted a video of the gate incident on Facebook. It’s spreading everywhere. My boss asked me into his office this morning and said my conduct reflects poorly on the department!”
I almost laughed. “Actions have consequences, Daniel. You wanted to avoid a scene to protect your job. Now the whole county knows what kind of man you are.”
“If you leave like this, I’m ruined!” he shouted, desperation taking over. “My mom’s house is an empty shell! We don't have the money to replace any of this!”
“Then I suggest she learns some humility,” I said, using her exact words against him. “Maybe three hours sitting in an empty house will knock the arrogance out of her.”
I opened the door to the truck cab and climbed inside.
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Officer Rodriguez tipped his cap to me, climbed into his patrol vehicle, and pulled away.
Daniel stood in the middle of the dusty driveway, watching the two silver moving trucks roll down the street, taking every single piece of comfort he had taken for granted.
