Clouds of Green

I watch him through the window. The storm is coming, I can feel the goosebumps on my skin as the wind blows through my hair. Watching him makes me think of happier times. Times when I would be in the house with him. Making dinner, watching t.v. Cuddled up with him on the couch.

That all changed when he got his new job as a newspaper editor. It has always been his dream, but he got an assistant and she is beautiful. I never thought of myself as a jealous person until he brought her up in every conversation we had.

“Janis told me about this new restaurant we should try out.”

“Janis said she really liked your outfit in the pictures you posted.”

“Janis…”

“Janis…”

“Janis…”

I felt like I couldn’t get away from her. Every time he brought her up, I cringed. I wanted to scream. I met her quite a few times. I would bring him lunch to the office and there she was in his office or at company outings he would bring me to and she would try to have a conversation with me.

It all seemed so fake. She didn’t want to be my friend. She wanted my husband. I know girls like her. They try to win over the husband by being nice to the wife. It was never going to work with me. I know better.

It finally got to a boiling point when he invited her and her husband over for dinner without asking me. He brought it up so casually like I wouldn’t mind her coming into my home. Like I wouldn’t care to prepare a meal for his friend.

Admitting I went a little crazy that night is an understatement. He couldn’t see what she was doing. He didn’t understand that I was seeing the game she was playing. I told him she isn’t allowed at our house and he should ask for a new assistant. He told me no. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

The fight lasted for weeks before he told me to leave. Told me he needed some time to figure out what was happening. He sent me away.

I couldn’t stay away though. I had to know what was happening in my house.

As I stand in the backyard, I try to stay as hidden as possible. My black hoodie helps blend me into the tree line, but I need to be closer. He has company over but I don’t recognize the vehicles in the driveway.

Stepping over sticks and leaves, I slowly make my way forward. Lightning cracks across the sky illuminating everything around me. I duck down when I see him peek out the window. The neighbor's dog starts barking like crazy as I lay on the ground until I see him back away from the window.

I run as fast as I can to the house before he has a chance to peek out again. When I get close to the backdoor, I can hear laughing. A woman's laugh.

My heart races and the anger starts to surface. He told me to leave so he can figure things out but he has another woman in my house. The rain starts sprinkling down on me but the cold does nothing to stop the anger radiating off of me.

Who does he think he is? I supported him through everything. I made our house a home. I did everything for him, just so he could bring another woman in? He is out of his mind.

I move to the window that peers into the living room. My husband is sitting on the couch facing the window but I can’t see who is sitting across from him.

I can see his mouth moving but I can’t make out what he’s saying over the rain. It’s coming down faster but I can’t get myself to leave until I know who he’s talking to.

Lightning strikes again just as he looks at the window. He looks horrified to see me standing there. He jumps up and then I see who is in my home, Janis.

I take a step back, falling to my knees. I knew this was going to happen. She was going to weasel her way into my husband. She was going to take my life away. The one I’ve worked so hard on creating.

“Honey, what are you doing out here in this storm?” My husband rushes over to me. Placing a hand on my back. “What is going on?”

I push him away from me as I see her standing in the doorway. “What is she doing here?” My voice comes out gruff and doesn’t sound like my own.

“Let’s get you inside,” He’s yelling over the rain trying to get me up and into the house.

“You brought her into my house after I told you not to. You always ignore everything I say,” I push him away again but I can’t take my eyes off of her.

He bends down to block my view, “Honey, what are you talking about? You knew she was coming over for dinner. We were waiting for you to come home.”

Thunder crackles across the sky as I laugh. It echoes across the valley taking my laugh with it.

“Janis, grab Andy and ask him to help me, please,” When he turns back to me, his eyes carry concern. He reaches for me again but I fall back to get away from him.

“Janis. Janis. Janis. It’s always about Janis. Every conversation has to do with Janis,” My rain soaked clothes stick to me as I finally stand up. “Why are you doing this to us? Why would you bring her here?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand what’s going on,” He looks back at the door waiting for someone to come help him.

I shake my head, taking steps back from him. The thunder around us rumbles again. The sky is illuminated by lightning and the rain keeps coming.

I turn away from him, pacing back and forth. “I built this life for us and you told me to leave. I have done everything for you. I have supported you in every way I can and you still picked some other girl over me. How could you do that to us?”

My tears mix with raindrops on my face. Everything is becoming a blur. The wind is whipping through my hair and it sounds like a freight train coming in.

“What are you talking about? We need to get inside. Just come inside so we can talk about what’s happening,” His voice is gentle. Trying to get me to trust him but it’s not happening. Not tonight. “Honey, please come inside. We shouldn’t be out here in this weather. Please.”

The next moment, the sirens start going off. I look around the sky and see how dark the clouds have become. They have a hint of green. I can never remember if green means it's passing or it's about to hit us.

“Both of you need to come inside now,” a voice yells from the door. “I don’t know what’s happening but I do know that this weather is not safe.”

The sirens are so loud. I can barely hear anything around me. I cover my ears and scream. Everything has become too much. I feel arms wrap around me picking me up and running.

I feel the wind shifting as my screams grow louder. Everything around us shifts as I am thrown through the glass door. I hear the glass shattering around me and feel the wind threatening to pull me back out before I slam onto the hardwood floor.

Everything stopped around me. The wind is gone, the freight train has passed and my throat is raw to the point no noise will come out.

I look around and see the horrified faces of Janis and Andy. I look at the back door and see the glass laying across the floor and my husband nowhere to be seen.

I try to run back to the shattered glass door but Andy grabs me holding me back. “Henry! Where are you?” My voice is hoarse from all the screaming.

“Where is Henry?” I scream at Andy as he wraps his arms around me pulling me to the ground.

Janis comes to stand in front of me, “Honey, we need to call 911. You’re bleeding really bad.” Her voice is shaking. She’s hiding something from me.

She pulls out her phone, dialling the number as she looks over the cuts on my body. When she starts talking, she moves away and starts whispering. I try my best to listen.

“Please send someone right away… medical…tornado…gone…”

My eyes feel heavy.

Looking down at myself, I see all the blood. My leg has glass sticking out of it, my wrist is split open and I can’t feel anything.

“You need to keep your eyes open,” Andy’s voice carries over me. Reminding me that he’s still holding on to me.

My head rolls back resting on his shoulder as my eyes droop closed, “Where is Henry?” The last words to whisper off my lips.