CH 93.
Andrianne sat across from Jackie in the living room, cradling the mug of coffee in her hands. “I’ve made up my mind, Jackie,” she said firmly. “I’m going to divorce Lucas.”
Jackie looked at her in surprise. “Are you sure, Andrianne? Have you thought this through?”
Andrianne nodded. “I have. I can’t stay in that house with Emily there. I just can’t.”
“I understand,” Jackie said sympathetically. “But what about your feelings for Lucas? Do you still love him?”
Andrianne sighed. “I don’t know anymore, Jackie. I thought I did, but after everything that’s happened, I just feel so lost and confused.”
“I get it,” Jackie said, placing a comforting hand on Andrianne’s shoulder. “And I’ll support you no matter what you decide to do. But just make sure you’re doing this for the right reasons, and not just because of Emily.”
Andrianne nodded. “I know. But even without Emily, there are just so many issues between us that I don’t think we can overcome.”
Jackie listened patiently as Andrianne listed all the problems in her marriage, from Lucas’s secrecy to their differing views on their future. “It sounds like you two have a lot to work through,” Jackie said thoughtfully. “But if you really feel like divorce is the best option, then I’m here for you.”
Andrianne smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Jackie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
They spent the rest of the day talking and planning, going over the logistics of the divorce and what Andrianne’s life would look like afterwards. Jackie was a great sounding board, and Andrianne felt relieved to have someone to talk to who understood what she was going through.
As the day turned into night, Andrianne felt a sense of peace settle over her. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but with Jackie’s support, she felt ready to face it head-on.
Andrianne couldn’t help but feel grateful for Jackie’s unwavering support. She knew that having a friend like Jackie was a blessing, and she felt a sense of relief knowing that she wasn’t alone in this difficult time.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Jackie,” Andrianne said as she sipped on her coffee. “You’ve been so kind and understanding throughout all of this.”
Jackie placed a hand on Andrianne’s shoulder. “Don’t mention it, Andrianne. You’re my friend, and I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
Andrianne felt tears well up in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
“You’ll never have to find out,” Jackie said firmly. “I’ll be here for you every step of the way, no matter what you decide to do.”
Andrianne felt a sense of comfort wash over her at Jackie’s words. She knew that she had a long road ahead of her, but having someone like Jackie in her corner made the journey seem a little less daunting.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier,” Jackie said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “About raising the baby on your own.”
Andrianne nodded, knowing where this was going.
“I think it’s a brave decision,” Jackie said. “But have you thought about what it would mean for your career? Being a single mother is tough, Andrianne. You’ll have to put your dreams on hold for a while.”
Andrianne knew that Jackie was right. Raising a child on her own would be challenging, especially with her demanding job. But she couldn’t bear the thought of staying with Lucas any longer, not after everything he had put her through.
“I know it won’t be easy,” Andrianne said. “But I can’t stay with Lucas, Jackie. I just can’t.”
Jackie nodded. “I understand that, Andrianne. And I’ll support you no matter what. But just know that you don’t have to go through this alone. You have me, and you have your family. We’ll help you in any way we can.”
Andrianne felt a surge of gratitude for Jackie’s words. She knew that she had a long road ahead of her, but with Jackie by her side, she knew that she could make it through anything.
“Thank you, Jackie,” she said, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her chest. “Thank you for being here for me.”
Andrianne tossed and turned in the bed, her mind in a constant state of turmoil. She couldn’t stop thinking about the future, about how difficult it would be to raise a child on her own. Tears streamed down her face as she thought about how unfair life was.
As she lay there, she couldn’t help but feel the absence of her mother. Her mother had been her rock, her confidant, and her best friend. Andrianne had always turned to her mother in times of need, and now, when she needed her the most, she was gone.
The weight of her thoughts became too much to bear, and she sat up in bed, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and tried to calm herself down. But it seemed like no matter what she did, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of despair that was engulfing her.
She wished she could talk to her mother one last time, to hear her voice and feel her embrace. But she knew that was impossible. All she had left were memories, memories that would never be enough.
Andrianne knew she had to be strong, for herself and her unborn child. She couldn’t keep dwelling on the past and the things that were out of her control. She had to focus on the present and the future, and do everything in her power to make sure her child had a good life.
With that thought in mind, she lay back down in the bed, still hugging the pillow. Slowly, she closed her eyes, and soon, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.