AVA:
"Next!" a voice echoed through the confined space. The impatience in the tone was glaring so I swiftly stood up to approach the desk with my envelope of documents clutched to my chest.
There was a man behind the desk but he barely spared me a glance before stretching out his hand to receive my envelope.
"Name?" he asked.
"Ava Dumphrey," I said even though I could feel the knot tightening in my stomach.
"Reason for loan request?"
"Rent," I plainly stated just like that without a plus or minus.
He nodded but still didn't spare me a glance while he flipped through my documents. "And where's your proof of income?" he asked.
"They are after the documents with you."
He got to them and glanced through the last item with him. I couldn't gauge what he was going to say next but I was nervous for whatever the case may be.
"Unfortunately, you lack the qualification to be approved for the loan," the man said to my hearing.
"What do you mean?" I asked with my voice raised a bit more slightly than usual. "I'm a single mother and I work two jobs. Isn't that enough to get me qualified?"
He shrugged, already shifting his focus to the next person. "Rules are rules, madam. Get a better score on your income and come back."
Seeing my hope getting dashed made me stunned as I stood transfixed on the spot for a moment before I eventually snapped out of it.
I wasn't just frustrated at this point, I was panic-stricken. How in the world was I going to take care of my son when I don't even have any money on me?
Quickly, I checked the time to see that I had about thirty minutes to my next shift so I stepped out of the building. I stood by the roadside waiting for a taxi when a black Toyota parked in front of me.
The window rolled down, revealing a face I haven't seen in over three years — Jared.
"Ava?" His baritone voice drilled my ears.
Looking at him, I could only remember one thing and it was him being the reason Damian thought I was a cheat.
I had mixed feelings seeing him but I had to respond to him.
"What are you doing here, Jared?"
"No, what are you doing here?" he asked in return. "I've been trying to reach you for ages but you've been MIA. What happened? Did something go wrong?"
I sighed. I don't think I could handle questions like this standing beside the road and in front of the building that just levelled up my frustration about my existence.
Jared must have noticed my uneasiness so he does the manly thing possible by saying, "Get in."
I hesitated at first but then got into the car with him. It felt really comfortable and I won't deny that I haven't experienced such luxury in three years despite it being just a car.
"You don't look so good, Ava. Talk to me. What happened? Where have you been?" Jared asked all that for a start and I ready to actually tell him everything he needed to know.
"Damian kicked me out," I stated with that.
"Damian, your husband?"
"Ex-husband. And it's been three years since he did."
"What did you do that would make him do such a thing?"
"He said I cheated on him," I stated and then turned my face to look at him, "With you."
"Wait, what?" Jared stated with a dumbfounded expression. "Me?"
"Yes, Jared, you. I knew Damian was tired of me but I didn't know he was tired enough to turn an ordinary friendly hangout into signs of infidelity. It really hurt me because I've been struggling since then to cater for myself and my son."
The information didn't elude Jared's ear. "You have a son?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," I stated. "And Damian doesn't even know because I didn't mention I was pregnant before he kicked me out."
For a minute or two, Jared said nothing but just stared at me. He had pity in his eyes and noticing it and me vulnerable. I didn't like to be looked at like that no matter what.
"You've been through a lot, Ava. And I don't want you to keep going through this alone," he said to me.
"I think I've been doing just fine."
"You have. But I want to help, Ava. And I mean it."
His hand went down to mine and I was certain I understood the message. I just wasn't certain I was ready for whatever came with it.
