CHAPTER 2 The part of you that left

It was late in the night, Vivian was on the sofa dozing, she was obviously tired and had been worrying before drifting off to sleep. It had become a daily routine in her life.

The TV was still on at that moment because she was watching a movie before wandering off In her thought.

At that moment, the door creaked open and this woke her up.

She yawned, stretched and turned to the drunken figure standing behind her. She put off the T V and turned to look at the wall clock.

"12:00 am"

she muttered and glared angrily at her husband who just got in.

He was late again just like the other nights.

Vivian stood up and stared meanly at Sean. She felt so annoyed and wanted to tongue lash him with various insults that were lurking in her mind but she restrained herself.

"You are most highly welcome at this godly hour"

She managed to say sarcastically.

"Do you know what the time is at this moment?"

She asked him angrily

"How can you call your self a responsible father when you don't even know how your son is faring, instead, you return home late, sweaty, drunk, and smelly" Vivian had started raising her voice now, she was becoming utmostly tired of his behavior this present day.

"I'm not surprised you've gone out there again. Isn't it?"

She asked sharply and covered her nose with her palm

"such a shame!"

"You do this same thing over and over again and it has turned you into nothing but a foolish drunkard"

She said lastly but that didn't land well as Sean gave her a resounding slap across her cheek.

She screamed and held her face.

"You monster, why don't you just kill me uhn? "

She said shouting at the top of her voice.

"Keep quiet!"

Sean retorted and stared at her

"You're disturbing the neighbors in this condominium"

he reminded her pointing his index finger towards her.

They live in a complex building with thirty other neighbors in their various apartment. It was more like a penthouse which was owned by the Smiths.

The penthouse has a tall structure with a rooftop, large courtyard with elevators and different floors.

Sean walked off angrily into the bathroom to probably wash himself up while Vivian slumped on the sofa and started sobbing uncontrollably.

This has been what she had been passing through ever since her marriage started crumbling,

She and Sean had drifted completely far from each other. It was like they were worst enemies.

What had she done to deserve this? Or what might have gone wrong?, she kept asking herself.

Ever since her husband had introduced her to one of his friends, Kendrick, it seemed like he had changed. She didn't know why but she disliked this Kendrick just on impulse.

She felt he might also be a bad influence on Sean and might be a factor for Sean turning into a monster overnight.

"This is not the Sean I married back then"

She said and cleaned her tears.

She stood up and was about to open the door of the bedroom but stopped. She would prefer sleeping beside her son, Justin, than spend the night with the monster she now has as a husband. As she got to her son's room, she saw her little boy was fast asleep unaware of the short brawl that had occured between mum and dad just now.

She cried as she kissed Justin on the forehead, feeling sorry for her son that he had crazy parents like them. She sat up on the bed and was sobbing but later stopped so she wouldn't wake Justin. She was soon forced to sleep so as to prepare for the next day.

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The next day was a Saturday and it was Sean and Vivian's fifth wedding

Anniversary, January 15th,.

It was quarter to eight in the morning and Vivian was still asleep when her phone rang.

"Aaaaargh!!"

She exclaimed with sleepy eyes, probably wasn't in the mood to wake up early on a Saturday.

It read 'Sweet mom' on the screen, obviously, it was her mother calling.

She picked the call and dunked back on the bed lazily.

"Hello, good morning mommy!*

Vivian greeted with a sleepy tone

"Happy fifth wedding Anniversary honey!"

A happy Mrs Allison greeted.

"Thanks mom!"

Vivian responded, still feeling sleepy.

"Common honey!, Don't tell me you are still on bed, were you asleep when I called?"

"Yes mom!"

"Oh sorry honey, but you and Sean should be awake by now, probably preparing on how to make this day special, not only for the two of you but also for your son, Justin".

Mrs Allison said over the phone.

"Okay mom!"

"I would have come visiting but dad and I are going on a trip to Indiana".

"Oh, okay mom".

"What of Sean?, Is he beside you?, can I greet him too?"

Mrs Allison said

"Urmm..urhhh …"

Vivian said confused because she knows Justin was the one beside her as she had slept in his room last night.

"What is it honey?, Is he not by your side?"

"No..no..urm..yes mom, it's ..it's just that he's still asleep you know, Sean sleeps a lot"

Vivian lied,

"Okay!, Send my greetings to him when he is awake okay"

"Okay mom, I will"

"I sent some gifts and cards for you guys, when you see it, don't bother to call, just know that it's from me and dad, okay".

"Okay!"

"Happy wedding anniversary once again, Vivian".

"Thanks mom!"

Vivian said and switched off the phone before falling lazily on her bed.

Not quite long, Justin woke up and she knew what that means.

No time to sleep anymore.

"Good morning mommy!"

A happy Justin greeted

"Morning my prince"

Vivian replied to him with a peck on the forehead.

"Mom! What are you doing in my room?, Did you sleep here last night?"

A confused Justin asked because he wondered what his mom was doing on his big bed.

"Well, l slept here coz I just felt like sleeping in your room"

Vivian said cutely with a funny face which made Justin laugh than usual.

"Why?"

"Why did you sleep in my room?"

"Because your bed is comfy"

"No it's not".

"Yes it is".

"No it's not".

They kept saying and Vivian took a chance to tickle him while Sean was at the door without them noticing, probably smiling as he saw the loving moments between both mother and son.

Vivian finally stood up and left the room with Justin.

Justin ran to greet his dad while Vivian went to make breakfast.

Just then the doorbell was heard and Sean went to the door to see who could be there that very morning.

It was the delivery man.

He was with cake and some gift items in his hand.

"Good morning!"

"Happy wedding Anniversary!"

He greeted Sean

"Urrrhh…Thanks".

Sean managed to say.

"From who?"

A confused Sean asked as he stared at the items in the man's hand

"Oh! Sorry for not mentioning that earlier".

"They are from the Daves"

The man finally revealed.

"Oh!, Thanks".

Sean said collecting the items from the man's hand and placing them on the table.

"Happy Anniversary once again!"

The man said before leaving while Sean closed the door with a sigh.

Sean's phone rang, it was a call from his parents.

They greeted him and Vivian for their Anniversary and after the greeting, Vivian returned to the Kitchen. She doesn't want to have anything to say or do with Sean after last night's brawl.

She was still angry at Sean for hitting her and Sean on the other hand was never willing to apologise.

Sean's phone rang again, this time around, it was a call from Kendrick

He picked the call and Kendrick reminded him of their outing that very day.

They were going to a popular festival in Hawaii and Sean had promised to follow him.

Sean went to his room to probably bathe and change into his Hawaiian shirt and jeans with espadrilles.

He returned to the sitting room, staring at the wall clock when Justin came running to his side.

"Dad, are you going out again?"

Justin asked sadly.

"Yes Justin!, I have somewhere I need to be right now".

Was Sean's response to him.

"Is it that important than your Anniversary?"

Justin asked and the question met Sean unawares.

"Urn…..urm…..ur…"

He was speechless as he could not find a word to say.

Vivian entered the dining room to serve Justin his breakfast..she was done with cooking in the kitchen.

"Mom!"

Justin said running to her.

"Dad is going out again, can't you tell him to stay behind?"

Justin said to his mom.

"Come have breakfast Justin,"

Vivian said, ignoring his question.

"Mom!"

"Please talk to dad".

Justin said cutely as he sat to eat his food.

Sean went to his room, probably to get his wristwatch when Vivian entered.

"So,"

"You are going out"

Vivian said with folded arms while he remained speechless as he wore his wristwatch.

"I wouldn't have known of your intention to leave the house this morning if Justin hadn't told me".

"Atleast you have eyes to see that I'm dressed up".

"So that's how you are gonna spend the rest of the day. Dress up and leave with Kendrick to God-knows-where?"

Vivian retorted now becoming angry.

"Vivian please okay"

Sean pleaded.

"We have somewhere important we need to be".

"Oh! Really".

Vivian scoffed.

"Important than our Anniversary"

"Even if you can't make this day special for me, but our son, he's right there go show him your love and time, but no, all you do is dress up and go out to see that fool"

"VIVIAN!!!!"

Sean yelled,

"You know what?"

"Its such a waste of time talking to you".

Vivian said lastly and went out of the room.