"Peter, I can't do this anymore."
The words of his wife hit him harder than a slap. Peter Kavinsky paused, his hand still wrapped around the dishcloth as he stood by the kitchen sink. The tap was still running, but the sound of the water faded behind the storm raging in his head.
He turned to face her. Bennie stood in the doorway of their tiny kitchen, arms crossed, her eyes looked so angry, her hair was tied up all messy. She was wearing a baggy Shirt which was quite old and a big shirt, her makeup smudged from the tears she'd wiped away before stepping in.
"Bennie," Peter said gently, getting the rag to dry his hands, "I'm trying babe. Everything I've done so far , I've done with everything I can just so our family can have a better future."
"Trying?" she snapped. "Peter, our electricity got cut off last week. The kids were sent home today because we couldn't pay the school fees. We eat rice four times a week. And on the rest of the days we eat noodles. The kids think pork is a Christmas meal or something .This isn't a life! If this is trying, you need to do better."
"You think I don't know all of this?" he said, his voice rising despite his effort to stay calm. "You think I want this? I went to jail for a crime I wasn't supposed to. All I did was protect our daughter from that monster and his family used their influence to accuse me of attempted murder for someone who was still quite okay." I took the fall for something because I couldn't let her get dragged through that mud like that."
Bennie's eyes filled with tears again, but this time, there was no softness behind them. "And what did that get us, Peter? Where did it get us? A criminal record? No jobs? No savings? I stopped school because of you. All this was too early and now my life is a mess. You should have controlled yourself. You chose that path, not me."
Peter exhaled, walking toward her. "I chose us. I chose family. I was doing what a father should. What a husband should. You guys are my whole life. I don't know what I'll do if anything ever happened to either of you. I'm doing everything I can to make this work please."
"And now look at us," she said bitterly. "I'm tired, Peter. So damn tired! Fix this!"
From the hallway, a soft sniffle broke the silence.
Peter turned. Desmond stood there, his first son. Frame small against the peeling paint of the walls. Anna, barely two, clung to Sandra's side, her elder sister trying to hush her baby sister as tears streamed down Anna's round cheeks.
"Mom?" Desmond asked, voice trembling. "Will you leave us?"
Bennie looked away. Her hand covered her mouth as she rushed past Peter, gathering the children to her.
"No, baby. Mommy just needs some air. Go to your room, okay?"
The kids hesitated, then obeyed. The bedroom door clicked shut a moment later.
Peter rubbed his face, his chest tight. "Bennie, please. I'm trying everything I can to fix this."
"No, Peter. You definitely are not trying everything you can. I need to breathe. I need to feel again. And I can't do that here." She left the house and went to a friend's.
Her friend who was single and so vibrant decided to take her for clubbing. Her friend was not very rich but was doing well enough for herself. They went to a classy bar for some shots.
They were having some shots when a guy in his early thirties walked up to her and said " I guess it's my lucky day." She smirked, " What do you mean?".
"Where did someone so pretty come from in this very dark evening. I frequent this place a lot and I've never seen you." He continued.
" This is actually my first time here. I just came with a friend for some shots. Got a lot going on. I need to cool my mind off." She responded.
"Mind if I join you then."
Bennie's friend, Bih sensed the environment and left them to talk .
They talked about everything and anything. Exchanged funny stories and laughed about it.
They ended up exchanging contacts and parted.
She went back to her friend's house later and slept over .
The next morning, the house was quiet. Peter had barely slept. He'd lain awake, watching the shadows shift across the ceiling, Bennie's words replaying in his head like a broken record.
He waited for her all night but she didn't come home.
He prepared breakfast, packed what little he could for the kids, and walked them down to the school gate himself. But when he got there, the principal stood waiting with a sympathetic look on her face.
"Mr. Kavinsky, I'm sorry, but unless we receive some form of payment, the children will have to stay home."
Peter's face flushed with shame. "Please. Just give me until Friday. I'm working on something."
The principal shook her head. "I'm sorry. The board's been very strict lately. You understand."
Peter knelt beside Desmond and Sandra, brushing Anna's cheek. "Let's go home, okay? I'll sort it out. I promise."
He walked back with them in silence, holding Anna in his arms while Desmond carried Sandra's bag. His shoulders felt heavier with each step.
When they returned, Bennie was sitting on the couch, dressed and ready.
"Where are they going?" she asked, startled.
"Back home," Peter muttered, gently putting Anna down. "No school today. Fees."
Bennie inhaled sharply. "God, Peter. This is exactly what I mean."
Where did you go last night.
" Ohhh please can't I even have a break." She responded.
He ignored her and went into the bedroom.
Then there was a text from an unknown number:
Sender:Hey what are you doing today
Bennie:Wanna introduce yourself first
Sender: Brian
Bennie: Who???
Sender: From the club yesterday
Bennie: Ohhh my bad. Yeah i'd be free
Sender: Wanna hang out? I'll be waiting for you at our same spot yesterday.
Bennie: Okay cool.
Then she left that afternoon. Said she was visiting an old friend who offered help. Peter didn't argue. He didn't have the energy.
Bennie never returned that night.
By 9 p.m., the kids were asleep. Peter sat on the porch, nursing a cup of cold coffee, staring at the moon.
Meanwhile, Bennie stood outside a downtown nightclub, the bass thudding through the walls. She wore a tight red dress borrowed from her friend Bih. Her hair was pinned up, lipstick fresh.
"You need this," Bih said. "Forget your husband. Find yourself again."
Bennie wasn't convinced. But the music, the crowd, the flashing lights—they numbed her.
Inside, the club was a blur of strobe lights and perfumes. She ordered a cocktail and took a seat near the back, her eyes scanning the crowd.
That's when he walked in.
Tall, confident, and sharply dressed in a navy blue suit. He looked completely out of place yet entirely in control. He walked up to Bennie. "Hey, how are you?", "I'm okay, took you long enough" she replied " I'm sorry pretty. Business." She looked away and smiled.
He smirked and sat down.
He clinked his glass to hers. "To regrets."
They drank. Talked. Laughed a little.
By midnight, she was more relaxed, her guard slipping.
"Where do you work again?"
she asked.
"You mean what company do I own? Well, Thompson Airlines"
She covered her mouth in shock. Peter's boss?