The Soldier Next Door

I guess at some stage in every marriage, the honeymoon phase becomes over. Well, that has now officially happened with Ana and me. Now, if I say that we want to kill each other, then that is a slight understatement. We cannot be in the same room for longer than a few minutes before heading out into an argument. Ana has become completely unbearable to be around. And after her stunt at Ray, her behavior is completely irrational.

This morning I am trying to sneak out of the guest room, which has now been my new room for what is now the second night in a row.

We brought Lucas home yesterday, and I can tell you that I have never been so happy in my life to have him finally where he belongs. Although I have had to sneak in moments to spend time with him, Ana has been doing her level best to keep him from me. I am writing it off to her wanting to spend time with him and rather not think that she is trying to keep him from me.

So this morning, I am trying to get out of the house before she sees me start yet another fight over something that I have not done or, even worse, that I have forgotten about.

So after having a shower, which, unfortunately, I cannot do in silence, I quickly get dressed, and after giving Lucas a kiss on his soft little cheek, I make my way towards the front door. The moment I step my last step towards the door, I near jump as I hear her voice coming from behind.

“Where do you think you are sneaking off to, Ethan?”

“Morning to you too, Ana. And I am going to Ray. As you know, we are deploying in a week.”

She looks me up and down as if she is totally disgusted by my appearance, then she starts with her stupid remarks again, “Dressing up for your little whore.”Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“God, Ana.” I throw my hands up in the air. “I have told you that is it Gibbs’s girlfriend. I mean, really, you are looking for an argument now.”

She goes silent, and I know she is trying to find something else to give me hell about, “What time are you going to be home?”

“When I am done, Ana.” I pause for a moment knowing full well I am going to stay there as long as I possibly can.

“Well,” she starts. “You need to finish putting that wardrobe together for Lucas’s clothes.”

I shake my head at her in shock, “When I tried doing that yesterday, you told me I am useless and that I do not know what I am doing. Do you remember that?”

She shakes her head in complete denial.

I need to stop myself from gasping in shock, “You still threw me out of the room and told me that you would get someone else to do it. So guess what?”

“No,” she huffs and folds her arms in front of her chest.

“Get someone else to do it. I really do not have time for your childish behavior. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go to.”

She still mumbles something underneath her breath, and I only but glare at her; it takes all my willpower not to blow off at her for acting the way that she is. She thinks that I have not been hearing how she speaks to Anna about me on the phone. What did she say again? I am that deadbeat Marine. Well, this deadbeat Marine is very close to walking out the door.

As I drive to Ray, I put the music as loud as I can to stop the thoughts from running circles in my head. I am so tired of thinking of what it is that I have done wrong that our marriage turned so sour so quickly. One day, we were still in love, and the next, we could not stand being in the same room. It is like something has snapped in her.

After a long slow drive, I finally stop in the driveway at Ray.

When I walk through the door, he only takes one look at me, “You and Ana fighting again?”

“Fuck, it has not stopped Ray. I did not sign up for this. If this is what marriage is going to be like, then I do not want to be married at all.”

Ray smiles and rests his hand on my shoulder, “It is just a phase; she will get over it.”

“Nah,” I shake my head at him. “I don’t think this is a phase. This is,” I pause for a brief moment. “This is something else. Ana has changed. I do not know who that person is back at home.”

“But you said she was different, Ethan?”

“That I thought so to Ray. Fuck, she is accusing me of having an affair with Gibbs’s girlfriend.”

Ray cannot help but burst out laughing, “Gibbs’s ex-girlfriend.”

“That exact one. Ana has gone insane. I understand the hormone thing, but this is ridiculous. I am sleeping in the damn guest room for two nights already.”

I watch as the concern grows on Ray’s face. He has seen me go through every emotion in my life before, and he has been there for all the shit I had to carry. He knows my frustration, and he knows that, well, he knows.

“Ray, I don’t think I can be married to Ana.”

Ray is taken aback by my comment, but not truly, for he knew that it was about to come. I am truly honest with myself. If Ana is going to continue to act this way, then I am afraid that I am not going to stay. I will be the best father that one can be, but I cannot stay with a woman if we cannot see eye to eye. Yes, I hate being a failure, especially in something so sacred as a marriage. But I am not a man that is going to allow a woman to make me feel like nothing and treat me even just as bad.

And with that very thought, my phone lights up with Ana’s name.

In an instant, my mood boils over, and I swipe up to answer. I do not give Ana one inch of a second before she can speak, “What do you want, Ana?”

“Where are you, Ethan?”

I take a deep breath before I lose my mind completely and calmly speak to her again, “What can I do for you, Ana? I am busy with Ray.”

“I just wanted to let you know that you don’t need to worry about the wardrobe; Anna said she would come to help me to do it since you are too lazy to do it yourself.”

“My god, did you just say that? Did you just tell me I am too lazy to put up my child’s wardrobe?”

“Well,” I hear her huff again, “If you were not, then you would have done it a long time ago. Now, what time are you going to be home?”

“I have told you that I will be back once I am done. Now you are wasting my time; Ray and the guys are waiting for me. So, goodbye, Ana.”

With that, much to a very shocked Ray, I put the phone down on her. But wait…

Ana has now phoned Ray, and he is only but stretching his arm out to me, “Ethan, it is your wife again.”

I do not even give her a moment to speak, and I hear Ana yelling at me through the other end. “Did you just put the phone down in my ear, Ethan?”

“Yes, Ana, I did. I told you I am busy, and you are wasting my time.”

“Oh, really, wasting your time. Do not let me get started on who is really wasting whose time here.”

“Well,” I snap at her. “If I am wasting your time, then perhaps do not phone me constantly?”

“You know what, Ethan.”

“No, but I bet you are going to tell me, Ana.”

I listen as she is breathing heavily and working herself up to a frenzy which is completely unnecessary. It is as if the woman has grown to hate me completely. I don’t know who my wife is anymore. I don’t know who Ana is anymore.

So I patiently wait for her, “Tell me what, Ana.”

“I regret ever meeting you, Ethan.”

“Well, I am glad that we have cleared the air, now can you stop phoning me because I am busy.”

“Yes, you are too busy to be with your son.”

“Ana, that shit is not going to fly with me. Every time I want to pick up Lucas, you take him out of my arms.”

“Yes, because you have no idea what you are doing when it comes to children.”

“Then you have no idea what you are doing when it comes to marriage. I am done with you. Do not phone me again.”

With that, I drop the call and silently mourn the end of my marriage.

I am done with Ana.

She has gone crazy.