Hey guys, here's Chapter 53! I hope you enjoy it. Comments and feedback are always appreciated! I read every single one. Also, please let me know if you spot any mistakes. I upload revisions all the time, and I will correct any errors that are pointed out to me. Just make sure to be specific so that I can find what you're talking about. Please note that this story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person is purely coincidental. As always, this is a world without STI's, and everyone involved in sexual activity is at least eighteen years old.
-Witty
~Kayla~
Monday March 09, 2037
My car makes a concerning clunking noise as I pull into the driveway. I know the damn thing is on its way out, but we just can't afford a new one right now. My cashier job at the department store barely puts a dent in our bills. Sadly, my trust fund is long gone; buying this house and paying for David's gambling.
I grip the steering wheel tightly, letting out a breath as I search for the strength to head inside. Admiring my reflection in the visor mirror I realize that I am still beautiful. If anything, I'm more breathtakingly gorgeous at thirty. Despite how attractive I am, I can see the exhaustion in my green eyes. Sad eyes. In my opinion, they leech away all appeal. Shutting off the car, I grab my purse and walk into the house.
The stairs creek as I make my way upstairs to where David is watching television in his recliner. He's between jobs yet again and spends most of his time in that fucking chair. David is always the first one hit by layoffs; he's a middle manager, but no one likes him. He just keeps getting bounced from company to company.
At least he can get a decent paying job. Dropping out of college as a freshman to give birth to David junior isn't doing me any favors. I love my three children with all of my heart, but I regret getting pregnant and married so early in life.
I remember David insisting that we're wealthy, so we don't need to stay at the mansion. In reality, Daddy is wealthy. The man David keeps me from. It happened in a thousand small steps, so gradually that I don't even remember it happening, but somehow I end up with no friends. Just David's friends and business associates. Everything revolves around what David wants.
Daddy ended up selling the mansion. The business went next, and I have no idea where he even is now. I miss him so much. Especially on days like today, my birthday. I'm thirty and I have no one to celebrate with. The kids won't make a big deal out of it and David probably doesn't even remember.
"I'm home," I announce, walking into the living room.
"Great, grab me a beer from the fridge," David grunts.
"Okay," I sigh before bringing him a cold beer from the kitchen. "My car is making that noise again. I really need a new one."
"We can't afford it," he reminds me, accepting the beer. "I'm almost out of unemployment and no one is hiring managers right now."
"Maybe you should take something else to tide us over?" I suggest for at least the tenth time.
"That wouldn't look good on my resume," David argues. "People would think I can't get a job in my field."
"You can't," I point out.
"Something will turn up soon," he shrugs. "In the meantime, just pick up a few more hours at the store."
"Fine, whatever," I glare at David while he ignores me and drinks his beer. "Where are the kids?"
I'm well aware that David's job isn't his only source of income. He still hangs out with that loser, Keith. Keith got out of jail last month, and I'm pretty sure he's one strike away from a life sentence. David doesn't get paid much, and anything he does get goes to gambling or drugs. Probably hookers as well.
"Their bedrooms," David answers, his eyes glued to the screen.
"Thanks," I mutter, turning to walk down the hall.
"Hey, when's dinner?" he calls out after me.
Ignoring my idiot husband, I check on each of the kids and let them know I'm home. Our youngest is in the first grade and she's a sweetheart. She runs up to me and hugs me, wishing me a happy birthday while telling me I'm the best mom in the world. David junior makes a comment about my age and the middle child doesn't even realize it's my birthday.
After seeing the kids and reminding them to do their homework, I head into the bathroom for a quick shower. I never bother shaving my pubic mound anymore, it's not like anyone's face ends up down there anymore. I do shave my legs and underarms, though. Dressing in lounge pants and a t-shirt, I make my way back to the main living area.
David is still sitting with his feet up, wearing old gray sweatpants and a stained white a-shirt. He's got earbuds in and is clearly watching something on his phone. I recognize that smirk and the lust-filled gleam in his eyes; he's watching porn.
I chuckle to myself as I remember everyone finding out about Brittney O'Connor from high school doing porn. Now Brittney, or rather, Cherry Angel is rich. She left X-Star Entertainment to start her own woman-run porn company called The Slut-Sisters. David prefers rougher porn.
Rolling my eyes, I head into the kitchen to make dinner. Sitting at the table, I play on my phone while dinner is cooking. I may not have friends anymore, but I can still see what my old ones are up to via social media. Ashley Bartlett is now Ashley Greene, and it looks like she's pregnant with their second child.
Her husband is proof enough that she's doing well financially. Ian, Josh, and Shawn starting their own company right out of college is still a huge topic of discussion in Ashwood. The fact that all three of them are now multi-millionaires also doesn't hurt. Ian is considered one of California's most eligible bachelors since Josh and Shawn are both married.
Shawn and Marcia broke up in college, and I don't remember the name of the actress he's married to. It looks like Marcia is single right now, she never does take the time to date. Getting a doctorate takes quite a bit of dedication, and her profile says her second book is coming out next year.
Hazel doesn't have social media anymore. Last I heard, she married some guy from her church that her parents set her up with. I know she has at least four kids, but there might be more now. She's a stay-at-home mom and I have no clue what her husband does for work.
Closing my social media app, I open up a national news website. I'm greeted by a full-screen advertisement for makeup. The model, Stephanie Bernardi, is another success story from the class of 2025. Fuck, I haven't spoken to Stephanie since our last season as cheerleaders ended.
Switching to a local news site doesn't help. Ashwood still has a huge problem with drugs and gang violence. The Crocs is now a national gang that's responsible for a significant percentage of narcotics smuggled into this country. There's an entire interview with police chief McLorn about what the county is doing to try and deal with it.
