Confused, Atlas had walked up to her and she had glanced up at him, a distressed look on her face.
"Everything okay?" He had asked her against his better judgment. He knew well enough to never speak to the popular crowd except spoken to by then but he couldn't just ignore her.
"No, my car… it won't start." She had pointed at thel herb car.
Her soft but clear voice had done something to him that day but he had refused to acknowledge it at that time.
"I have tried reaching my dad but he's not picking up and the stupid thing won't start no matter how much I try." She had whined, almost at the verge of tears.
"Oh, I can take a look at it for you." Ii had shrugged.
She had looked at him with so much appreciation in her eyes that he had been ready to do anything for her in that moment. The truth was that he had always had a little crush on her. Hell, every red blooded male and even female in and outside school had had a crush on her. She was the definition of soft and feminine beauty mixed with brains and she was a sweetheart.
He had taken a look and realized that her car engine was overheating and invited her into his house against his better judgement.
She'd been surprised about his living condition then. Even then, it had been bad. He had been living with his mother in a one bedroom studio apartment with his mother who at that time had been doing her best to put food on the table and send me to school while working four jobs.
Her reaction had not been one of disgust like Atlas's other classmates, they were one of sympathy. The look had somehow hurt worse than the look of disgust he was used to.
She had asked me about so many questions that day that at some point began to piss him off but he had answered them because for some reason he wanted to give her everything she asked for. She'd told him a few details about herself too and they had both bonded to their shared love for comic books.
She had left his place after the rain had subsided but not before thanking him for helping her out with her car.
At that time, Atlas thought he'd never see her again after all what would a beautiful girl like her want with him but when she had come to school the next day with a full basket of groceries for him, he had been surprised and from there their friendship had not only grown but it had blossomed into something beautiful.
When the first started hanging out, he got beat up several times by the popular crowd warning him to leave her alone but their anger and prejudice had only made him even more stubborn. He'd been a loner before Jessica and he wasn't about to let her go because of a few beatings. It wasn't like they'd stop anyway.
One day, he was bear up so bad that he'd lost a tooth, that was the day Jessica had gone to the principal to report all of the bullies that had been bullying him. He'd pleaded with her not to but she'd refused saying that 'i refuse to lst them treat you like this any further."
At that time, he had been so scared that she would only make things worse and probably put a target on her back but she hadn't cared a single bit.
Ever since that day, Atlas knew that Jessica was the one.
They'd first kissed on prom night. He had been planning to start home but she'd come to pick him up as her date in a fancy limo. Atlas had been so shocked. Even his mother had been surprised.
When they had gotten to school, everyone had stared at both of them in shock. They eventually ditched the party and went to the roof top to watch the stars.
They'd talked about everything and just when words failed Atlas, Jessica had grabbed him and kissed him. Ever since then, they'd been together as a couple.
Deciding that she deserved to be spoiled, Atlas ran down to the floral shop. He didn't mind spending his entire life savings on her, which wasn't much to begin with, just to make her happy. She had been there for him even when he had nothing to offer, hell, he still had nothing to offer and she was still here. She was the only reason he was working this hard, she and his mother.
Atlas was smiling ear to ear as he got to the front door of their apartment. Yes, he had taken a risk by buying her a big bouquet of flowers and some scented candles and food, knowing that they were struggling right now but she was worth every penny. He would just have to work triple shifts and get two extra jobs so they could meet up with the expenses in the house. He'd sign his soul to her if he could. That was how much he loved her.
He opened the front door to their apartment, it was eerily quiet, almost like she wasn't home but he knew there was no way she'd leave the house without telling him, especially since it was their anniversary.
"Jess!" He called out her name, a huge smile plastered on his face but there was no answer.
"Jess, I got you something."
He yelled out in a singsong voice as he walked through the house looking for Jess. Finally, he headed to the kitchen to get himself some water to drink. He was parched after all the running he'd done just to get home early.
He gently placed the stuff in his hands on the kitchen island.
As he did, he noticed a Milan document lying on the counter. He walked towards it and opened the document in it.
His eyes widened and his stomach twisted painfully as he read in bold letters divorce papers.
Jessica had filed for a divorce.
Atlas stared at the document, unable to believe what he was reading. This couldn't be real! He thought. There was no way this was real. He re-read the document again, his hands shaking in the process and he hadn't been mistaken. These were divorce papers and Jessica had filed for it."You are home early."Jessica's voice took him by surprise.He glanced up to find her staring at him, a resigned look on her face.She was holding a laundry basket in one hand with only a few clothes in it."What is the meaning this?" Atlas asked, his voice strained as he put up the divorce papers for her to see.Jessica let out a sigh and dropped the basket of clothes close to the entrance of the kitchen."They are divorce papers, Atlas, isn't it obvious from what you read.""I don't understand…" Atlas confessed."Is this some kind of a joke? One of your silly pranks?" He said as he took a step closer to her.Jessica was known for playing random pranks on him but they were usually funny, this however
Why was Jessica breaking Jim like this? Why on earth was this happening? How on earth had he let it happen? These were the thoughts that plagued his mind as he tried to make sense of the situation.The more he looked into Jessica's eyes, the more he realized just how far gone she was. The spark that used to be in her eyes whenever she was with him was no longer there and it was all because of that stupid man. He felt humiliated in his own home. Jessica had brought in another man into their home and possibly bed.He hated to admit it but it was what it looked like. The strange man had not only been half naked but he'd also been staring at her as if he wanted to devour her right there and there but was restraining himself.He wanted to kill him,wanted to beat the man to a bloody pulp for daring to touch his wife in his presence. "Is that why you've been so distant lately? Why you barely want to cuddle or be around me?" He asked. He was aware of how pathetic he sounded but he didn't
Atlas paced the hallway of the hospital waiting for news of his mother's condition, his heart beating faster than a gym rat on a treadmill.He'd been here for almost an hour now and had still not gotten a response from the doctor and it worried him.The smell of disinfectant and other chemicals used to clean the hospital wasn't helping with his anxiety either.If the doctor did not come out from the emergency room to give him some news, he was fucking sure he'd collapse from a panic attack.The last thing Atlas had expected to see when he had arrived at his mom's hours ago was his mother lying face down on the kitchen floor with a bloody nose. After the shitty day he'd had, he'd wanted only to sleep but of course the universe was conspiring against him as always.Two nurses rolled a patient past Atlas that appeared to have a knife embedded in his arm and Atlas quickly stopped them, his intentions to ask about his mother's condition. He recognized them as the paramedics that had
Getting fired barely hours after his wife had left him by a man that wanted his wife had to be the most ironic circumstances Atlas had ever been a part of. The tears he had been holding back for so long came crawling out of his eyes of their own volition.His life had gone from not so good to terribly unfortunate in a matter of hours.First, his wife had decided to leave him and then his mother and now he'd lost his job.Without thinking, Atlas picked himself up from the ground where he'd been dumped and began to walk down the road with tears streaming down his face.How on earth was he going to cough up ten grand from? He had nobody to call, not Jessica, not his boss. His father had died before he was even born or at least that was what his mother told him.He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't bear to see his mother die. He just couldn't. He'd been through too much…The universe had to be playing a prank on him, a very sadistic one and he didn't think he could take anymore
Atlas got into her car, fastened his seatbelt and sat in silence, tired from all he’d been through today. He still didn't believe that the woman was going to send him twenty thousand dollars but it didn't matter either way. If she was some kind of kidnapper or con artist, she would be very sorry once she realized he didn't have a single dollar to his name.The strange lady parked her car properly then turned to face Atlas squarely.“So, tell me your account details” she said looking at a slightly annoyed Atlas“look if this is a joke, just end it right here and tell me what you really want, I’ve had quite the day already.” He let out tiredly“Account details?” she repeated not acknowledging everything he’d just said."Fine," Atlas gritted out and called out his details. He watched as the lady pressed a few buttons on her phone, a look of skepticism in his eyes.Few seconds later, his phone buzzed, he took a look at the message he'd just received and he froze.Staring at him was a mes
Atlas got dropped off at the hospital by a taxi. He ran into the building like a mad man, he got to his mum’s ward and she wasn’t there, he grabbed a hold of one of the nurses passing by.“Where's my mum? Is she ok? please where is she?” Atlas rushed out his words as worry took off his whole being. He was doing his best to stay calm but the more he tried, the more he fidgeted with worry.“she was rushed into the surgical room a few minutes ago” “Where is the room?” he asked, panic still evident in his voice“just down that hall but…”Atlas rushed towards the direction she’d pointed at without waiting for her to finish her sentence. When he got there he was stopped by some nurses.“sorry sir, you can’t be inside the surgical room while surgery is going on”One of the nurses recognized him and spoke,“Oh Mr Atlas, it’s you”Atlas looked at the blonde haired male nurse that stood infront of him, he recognized him, he’d often come to take his mum’s vitals.“Don’t worry, she’s under the b
He made his way back to his place to take a shower, he made a quick sandwich and got out a fresh pair of clothes to wear. He took a look at his sorry excuse for an apartment with hope knowing in a few minutes he could afford a better one, he stepped out and made his way to Esmeralda’s place.He reached her place in about 30 minutes, she opened the door for him and once again he was greeted by her huge corridors. He loved her art collection, medieval but so beautiful. He followed her to the living room and sighted a man in a suit and briefcase who stood up to greet him.“Good afternoon sir, pleasure to meet you, I’m barrister Lawrence” he took Atlas hand not waiting for him to offer it and shook him, atlas noticed how excited he was“it’s nice to meet you too” “he’s the Lawyer in charge of the Will” Esmeralda chipped in offering some clarity for Atlas.Atlas nodded. Everything still felt like a dream to him, like he'd died and gone to heaven. How a miracle like this could come his wa
Atlas stared down at the pastor for a moment and hugged it out with him. He was almost at the brink of tears, not because it had been long he saw the man, but because he was simply an amazing personality that helped him grow up."Where have you been?" He asked with a smile plastered on his face. "Doing the Lord's work. I heard your mom has been in the hospital. Mind me asking how you got the money for the bills." Atlas smiled for a moment. He wasn't necessarily going to tell the man that he was rich, it would raise suspicion as to how he got the money."I got a loan from my boss." He lied through his teeth."That's amazing. I believe you are here to see your mom?" He enquired and Atlas nod his head. They both head over to the ward, where Atlas mom was laying down and watching evening news."Hey mom, how are you feeling." Atlas asked going over to her side."I am doing great son and let me be honest with you, it's just so amazing to be back again." Atlas had his mom holding his hands