From Frying Pan to Strange Fire

The tears flowed freely from Joan’s eyes as she walked down the stairs. While walking away, she heard the dialing tone of her mother-in-law’s phone and she already predicted what was about to happen. But she didn’t care anymore. She had it with them and everything they represented.

For three years she had endured this sham of a marriage where she was starved of everything marriage was supposed to be about. Three good years of her life wasted on a man she foolishly loved and married oblivious to the fact that he was only pretending to feel the same way about her.

But no more. She was done. whatever wants to happen should happen. She doesn’t care anymore.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

On reaching the foot of the stairs, she halted as her eyes settled on her luggage. Wiping her eyes with the back of her palm, she grabbed onto the boxes and bags and moved them all to the guest room without hesitation. Just as she dropped the last bag, she heard her phone ringing and she fished for it.

Her upper and lower teeth pressed hard against each other as she checked who the caller was and realized it was her father – the very same man who was the originator of her misfortune, and the reason she couldn’t find the courage to get herself out of it all these years.

In annoyance, she ended the call and immediately dialed Grace’s number.

“Joan?” Grace called her name the moment she picked up the call.

“I’m on my way to your place. Please keep the door open.” Joan spoke.

“It’s late, Joan. What’s going on? Should I come to pick you up?”

“No. Don’t bother. I’ll take a taxi. I’ll be fine.” Immediately after saying this, Joan ended the call, switched off her phone, and threw it into her handbag.

She picked up a small bag and threw a few of her belongings which included her work uniform and toiletries inside. Once satisfied, she stepped out of the guest room with the bags, and headed toward the main door.

Getting to the sitting room, she met the three devils who decided to ruin her night. They looked like they were deliberating on something, and at that point, she didn’t care what it was. They all stopped speaking when she arrived at the sitting room, moving their confused gazes in her direction.

Without sparing them another glance, she approached the door.

“What are you doing? Where do you think you’re going by this time?” Richard’s voice reached her ears, but she gave no response.

“I’m talking to you, Joan. If you step out of this house, just know that this marriage is over.” Richard threatened, and this time, Joan halted her steps right before the door.

“You should let her do what she wants. She is an adult, after all.” Belinda chipped in, giving a nonchalant shrug, while Mrs. Charles only watched with contentment glimmering in her eyes.

She had waited for this day so long that she could barely believe it was happening right before her eyes. The only pest in her family would finally be thrown out. It was like a dream come true.

After hearing Richard’s threat, Joan drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly to calm herself down a little. A small smile appeared on her face as she turned around to face her tormentors.

“This marriage is over if I step out?” She scoffed, keeping her fiery gaze on Richard. “You got it all wrong. This marriage ended a long time ago, and you just signed and stamped it by deciding to rub your infidelity in my face. Bringing a total stranger into our home and bed broke the last string binding us together. So I wonder what you are talking about.”

“Hey, watch your tongue. Who are you calling a stranger? I was in Richard’s life before you came into the picture and tore us apart. If anyone is a stranger here, it’s you.” Belinda fired back, triggered by Joan’s words.

It took a significant amount of self-control for Joan to ignore Belinda’s words, ignore Richard and his mother, and actually turn again toward the door.

“You seem to be forgetting that you and your entire family are dependent on us. You are about to make the biggest mistake of your life.” Richard reminded her.

“No mistake is bigger than this marriage.” As soon as Joan said this, she pulled the door open and walked out of the house, ignoring Richard who kept calling her name.

She flagged down a taxi and jumped into it without a second thought, turning a deaf ear to everyone and everything around and behind her.

As soon as she arrived at Grace’s house, she met her friend standing outside with worry etched deeply in her features. A sigh of relief escaped Grace’s lips on sighting her.

“What is going on? You left me worried. I was about to drive down to your place.” Grace complained, eyeing Joan as the latter approached her.

“I’m sorry,” Joan apologized, her voice and words breaking as all the pent-up frustration, anger and pain suddenly floated up to the surface.

“What the hell, Jo, what happened?” Grace opened the door for her to enter the house, her worry escalating seeing her friend in that condition.

Joan walked into the house without answering the question, and as soon as she sat down on the sofa, she broke down in tears.

Grace quickly locked the door and rushed to Joan’s side.

“Girl, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did someone die?” She asked and was shocked when Joan nodded her head to the question.

“Somebody died? Who?” Grace asked, her eyes stretching in alarm.

“Richard, his mother, Belinda, my marriage, everything that keeps me sane, I’m losing my mind…” Joan listed, sobbing intensely.

Confusion registered on Grace’s face, but she refrained from asking any more questions or saying anything further. At first, when Joan began the list, she was shocked to hear that Richard died. But as the list went on, she knew something else must be the case.

Plopping down beside Joan, she pulled the latter into her arms, comforting her in silence.

It took a while, but Joan eventually stopped crying, only gasping occasionally as a result of the outpouring of her intense emotions.

“I think I am now ready to take your offer. I want to leave this country. I’m done. I’ve had enough.” Joan revealed.

“You know I’ll do anything for you. I’ll call my travel agent right now and they will begin to process the documents as soon as tomorrow… But first, tell me everything that happened.” Grace spoke, never withdrawing her comforting hug even for a second.