“Amira, this is Petri, and riding along with Petri is her baby, Petri Three. Petri, this is Amira.”
Amira reached out slowly and stroked Petri on her shoulder.
“Give her an almond.”
Amira did and laughed at the way Petri snatched it from her hand, bit it in half, and gave half to the baby she was carrying. The baby ate the almond with the enthusiasm of its mother.
“She’s so stinking cute! Can I hold her?”
“Take a few almonds out of your pocket and hold them in the palm of your hand so she can see them. I’ll move so she can get from my shoulder to yours. For almonds, she would let the devil himself hold her.”
That was exactly what happened. A minute later Petri and Petri Three were sitting happily on Amira’s shoulder eating every almond handed their way. Soon Amira’s almonds were gone, and Petri returned to John’s shoulder. John opened the Plexiglas door again and she hopped back inside. John threw the remaining almonds in to the other monkeys, closed the door, and locked the latch. Amira stood silently. The smile that had been on her face was gone. She stared at the monkeys inside the enclosed area. A lightening flash strobed through the overhead domed skylight and thunder cracked. Rain drummed on the roof.
“I’m leaving him.” She didn’t look at John standing behind her. “God knows I have tried to make it work, tried for Elona, tried for my parents—I just can’t.” A tear rolled down her cheek. She kept looking at the monkeys. “It’s more than just the loss of love or passion or intimacy. He will not let me grow. He wants to keep me in a cage, just like these monkeys, and he’ll never change.”
“How can I help? What do you need from me?” John put his arms around her.
“Patience,” she said. “I’m going to talk to him when he comes back. It’s going to take a while for me to get my own place, as well as get Elona and myself settled there. We won’t be able to see each other till the separation is complete.”
“I understand.”
“Thanks. There’s one other thing you can do for me,” Amira said.
“Anything.”
She faced him. “Take me back to your place and bring me to your bed.”
When Ethan returned the next evening, Amira felt ready. She spent the first hour with Elona, hearing about the new doll Grandmother bought her and the new clothes. Ethan didn’t say a word to Amira the whole evening, or during dinner. When dinner ended, Ethan secluded himself in the study. Amira put Elona to bed.
Amira took a shower, changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt, and went to the study. Ethan sat at his desk reading the Tanakh. When she walked in, he continued reading as if she wasn’t there.
“Ethan, we need to talk,” Amira said.
“No, we don’t. You are not working outside this house. That is my final word on the matter. I hoped time alone would help you understand that fact. Elona needs you at home.” Ethan turned a page of the book, pressing it down firmly with his hand.
“I’m leaving,” Amira said.
Ethan looked up from the book. “Leaving? Where’re you going? It’s ten o’clock at night.”
“I mean I’m moving out, with Elona. I want a divorce.”
“I forbid it.”
“Ethan, please. We need to talk. We have to talk about how best to handle this for Elona.” Amira kept her voice calm and her tone even.
Ethan stood from the chair and went around the desk. He pointed his finger at Amira’s face. “I forbid it! You’ll not destroy this family!”
She stood her ground. “I’m not your child. I’m not asking your permission. This is not a family. We’re two people living separate lives within the same house. There’s no love here.” Amira raised her voice at the end. “You want to control me like I’m your servant, but I’m not going to live my life this way!”
Amira’s defiance, in Ethan’s eyes, was a defiance of God. God had ordained the husband as the authority in the marriage. It threatened him, but mostly it scared him. He was losing, or as he now realized, he had already lost her. Anger widened his eyes and veins protruded from his forehead. He didn’t know how to stop it. His open hand came up out of frustrated reflex and landed sharply on the side of Amira’s face before either of them knew it, leaving the red imprint of his fingers.
She gasped from the pain. He had never struck her before. Her eyes went back to his. She could see the outward expression of anger, but she could smell the fear. Her eyes did not flinch. Her stare never left his.
“I’m leaving. You can beat me if you want, but that fact will not change!”
He clenched his fist in front of Amira. Instead of striking her again, he grabbed the book from the desk and threw it against the wall behind her. “I’ll not grant you a divorce, ever! You’ll be back here in a week. Do you understand? I’ll fight you every step of the way. I will not help you break up our family.”
“I don’t expect any help.” Amira slammed the door on her way out.
The next morning, after she took Elona to school, as soon as the bank was open Amira withdrew half of the money in their checking and saving accounts. She opened up her own account at a different bank and calculated that she had enough money to last for a year. By then I need to have a job. From there, she took the laptop to a Starbucks to search for an apartment.
She settled at the table and opened the laptop. She took a sip from the latte and waited for the login screen. I don’t think Ethan would put spyware on my computer. But I can’t be sure. I’ll just have to risk it. Into Google she typed “Craigslist Boston.” Under “Housing” she selected “apt/housing.” Next she selected “All Apartments.”
The screen filled with pictures, sorted by newest to oldest. Amira scrolled through the page. Something close to Elona’s school. Her attention was drawn to the picture of an empty living room, well-lit, an open kitchen with golden-oak flooring, and cabinets with black granite countertops at the far end.
Rent: $2,500 / Month
Broker Fee: One Month
Available Date: 09/12/2019
Beds: 2
Baths: 2
Pet: No Pets
Features: Central Air, Dishwasher, Eat-in Kitchen, Granite Countertops, Hardwood Floors, Laundry, Modern Bath, Modern Kitchen, Near T, New/Renovated Kitchen, Parking For Rent, Storage, Near Public Transportation
Spacious 2 bed 2 bath apartment located on Jacob Street. Gorgeous updated kitchen, granite, dishwasher. Modern bathroom, good closet space, windows, gleaming hardwood floor in kitchen and bath and crown moldings. Steps to Star Market and C-Line. Great restaurants within walking distance. Central A/C. Exclusive laundry and storage space right outside of unit.
Call or Text Lisa 508-516-3877
That is a very short drive to Elona’s school. And it’s available tomorrow. Amira punched the number on her phone.
“Hello?” a young woman’s voice answered.
“Hi, I’m calling about the apartment you have for rent. Is it still available?”
“Yes, it is still available.”
“I am very interested, can I come see it?”
“Great, I’m the broker. What time would you like the viewing?”
“Now?”