Chapter 6
No one was home, but Paulina’s things were everywhere.
Her bras and panties littered the floor.
Makeup was scattered across my entire study, staining the desk and shelves.
photo of Mom and me had been tossed into the trash can with used sanitary pads.
My clothes were piled in a corner on the balcony, buried under half–eaten food and moldy garbage.
A tidal wave of anger crashed through my chest.
I picked up the photo, fighting back nausea, called in a cleaning service, and started packing up my life.
After ten years together, even the houseplants had to be divided–who would keep them, me or him?
We’d traveled all over the world; the refrigerator was covered with magnets, each one a memory.
Now, they were just junk.
The roses on the windowsill were still blooming. I stared at them, lost in thought.
That rose was one I’d brought back from Texas,
I’d never been able to keep flowers alive, but I loved that vibrant bloom.
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Emmett froze when he saw me, fumbling for an explanation.
“Marina, you’re back. Paulina’s apartment had a leak, so she’s crashing here for a few days.”
I said nothing, found Mom’s urn, and carefully set it aside to pack.
Paulina couldn’t stand being ignored.
“Rina, are you mad at me?”
She shook a cake in her hand, skipping over, her face beaming.
“Emmie said today’s your anniversary! I didn’t get you a present, so I brought cake.”
The leftover mango cake still read, “Happy Wedding, Lifetime Together.”
I waved her away, pushing the cake
Paulina shrieked and stumbled, crashing into me.
“Ah!”
Her elbow struck, and the urn flew from my hands, hitting the floor with a sickening thud.
Sticky cake landed right in the scattered ashes.
Paulina’s eyes filled with tears.
“Rina, if you don’t want cake, just say so. No need to get physical. I’m the one cleaning up around here, anyway.”
She wiped her eyes, grabbed a broom, and started sweeping.
My vision blurred with rage. I shoved her hard.
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“Are you insane? Don’t touch that!”
Just then, Emmett came out and saw everything.
“Marina! Are you out of your mind?”
He rushed to Paulina’s side, fury etched across his face.
“She was just trying to be nice, and you attack her? Who do you think you are, some kind of queen bee? I haven’t even married you yet, and you’re already acting entitled?”
I clenched my jaw and slapped him.
“That’s my mom’s ashes!”
I glared at him, shaking.
“Ashes?”
Emmett sneered.
“Since when do ashes get tossed on the ground like trash? You’ll do anything to make Paula look bad, won’t you?”
He didn’t bother hiding his contempt.
“Enough, Marina. I’m sick of your drama.”
He grabbed the flowerpot from the windowsill.
Bang!
It shattered, pieces flying everywhere.
I stared at the wreckage, heartbroken.
The Texas rose was destroyed.
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Everything was ruined.
Emmett’s face went pale.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean-
He crouched down, scrambling to pick up the mess.
Paulina suddenly burst into loud sobs.
“Emmie, the pot cut my hand! It hurts!”
“Are you okay?”
Emmett jumped up, hesitated, then stepped right over the ashes, scooping Paulina into his arms, eyes blazing with disappointment.
“All this drama over a pile of garbage, Marina? Is this really who you are?
“I’ll buy another rose. When you calm down, come apologize to Paula.
“I’m taking her to a hotel to treat her hand. She’s scared–she’s not coming back tonight!”
He slammed the door behind him.
I stayed on the floor, trying to gather what was left of the ashes.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
Staring at the chaos around me, I trembled, tears falling onto the crushed rose petals.
It felt just like that storm–tossed plane all over again.
But this time, the plane crashed.
