Before It’s Too Late Novel – AVERY JACKSON COULDN’T FIND the words to describe the mixed emotions she felt when she read the message that popped on her boyfriend David’s phone. She didn’t know if her eyes were fast enough to have read it before the notification faded or if the heavens wanted her to read it. Her body froze, her heart stopped, and a heavy and painful pounding on her chest dominated. She gasped for air. Her whole body stiffened. It was like any second her head would explode. Every inch of her body trembled. Her stomach flipped with nausea. She covered her mouth with her hand to stop the vomit. When she heard the bathroom door unlock, she returned the phone to where David had left it before showering. “Are you okay, babe? What’s wrong?” David asked. “You’re trembling.” His eyes widened. “Ah… Um. I need to go to the bathroom. I think I have diarrhea.” She bolted for the bathroom.
She locked the bathroom door and sat on the cold tiled floor, leaning her trembling body against the wall. Her eyes welled up with tears. She didn’t know what to do. Should she confront him? Since when has this been happening? Who is she? How? Where? Why? An intense piercing and poking sensation burned in her head. Her brain asked all the different questions but failed to find answers to any of them. She pressed her chest slowly and hard, hoping her hand could lessen the pain, when she heard David from outside the door. “Babe, are you okay? How are you feeling? Do you need medicine?” “I’m okay,” she answered softly, hiding her silent cries. “Do you want me to buy you an energy drink or something?” “Yes, please… Thank you.” Her voice crackled. She burst into tears when she heard their main door shut. She shook her head multiple times, denying that David had cheated on her. Even though she knew in her heart it wasn’t true, she hoped the message wasn’t for him.
She quickly left the bathroom. David’s phone wasn’t where she had placed it a while ago. She tapped her forehead several times. Stupid Ave! No cheating prick will leave his phone behind. Her feet started pacing. She had to think of something. Confronting him could be good or bad. How would she do it? Reality hit her. Her woman’s instinct was activated. Were there signs? She had been so dumb, trusting, or in love. How would she have known the signs? There was no manual or a guide for her to know if he was cheating on her. Maybe David is so good at hiding, she thought to herself. She started going back to the past days, weeks, and months. Then, on cue, her tears fell again. The same heaviness and poking in her chest intensified.
But she had to brave the pains to find answers. Someone other than David might know. Who else knows? Self-pity struck her. Did people in the firm know? Was she the last one to know? These were just a few of the questions that popped into her mind. The unexplainable pain sucked all the strength in her. She wanted to confront him but was afraid she might be wrong. She felt the urge to call and ask, especially those in his inner circle. But she doubted they would tell her. If people who knew about it wanted her to know, at least someone should have mentioned it to her already. “Oh, God! I’m so naïve and stupid! David is their boss. Their loyalty is with him, of course,” she exclaimed. She felt alone and pitiful. In times like this, she always ran to her family. But, this time, she wouldn’t because she still wanted to protect David.
Stupid as it may seem, she wanted him to be on her family’s good side. What was she thinking? She suddenly remembered when Shelly, her best friend, caught her fiance giving his secretary a “mouth-to-mouth” resuscitation inside his office. She’d wanted to smack Shelly when she lied to her parents to protect the guy’s “respectable” image. Was she being Shelly right now? What should she do? She started doing personality analyses of each woman in the firm mentally. She couldn’t seem to match anyone, any lady employee in particular. For years she had been working in the firm; most ladies there were still not the type to flirt. Their relationship was an open book in their workplace. Only a marriage certificate was missing to confirm how deep they were into it. David had come into her life unexpectedly. He was someone who had been around for almost three years.
A guy she knew, a colleague she had never noticed before. He was that someone she saw every day but never thought about. But after their unexpected lunch together, she realized the reason behind it. She knew then that he had a long-time girlfriend. Though he attracted most of the ladies around the firm, Avery never joined the “fan club,” knowing he was “taken.” Avery had experienced many different firsts after meeting David. On their first lunch together, he told her, If your boyfriend doesn’t come and look for you, he doesn’t know what he’s missing! It was the first time a guy had told her there was something in her. Her heart had skipped a beat. How he gazed at her in all their times together made her heart flutter. No one had ever made her feel that way. “Babe, are you okay now?” David asked her. “Better, I guess.” She realized he was already back. She watched him as he opened the bottle of energy drink. Then she focused on the cell phone he had placed on the bedside table. Even without her going near it, she could tell it was in silent mode, judging by how many times the notifications lit up on the screen.
“Here. Drink it, babe. Make sure you don’t get dehydrated. Do you need anything else?” What she needed was for him to be honest with her. “Nothing, thanks.” She gulped the drink without taking her sight off David. He was grinning as he grabbed his cell phone from the side table. She watched him as he sat in bed. He was so engrossed in what he was reading he didn’t notice her eyes glued to him. A lump formed in her stomach. He had the same excitement and the sweetest smile on his face now that he’d had the morning he’d asked her to be his girlfriend. Except for this time, Avery was sure it wasn’t for her. When her body started trembling again, she placed her hand over her heart. She couldn’t seem to breathe. Her breathing was becoming loud. It was so loud that she had to cover her ears with her hands. Then she couldn’t seem to hear her heartbeat.
She felt as if her heart had stopped beating. She started pressing into her chest—everything around her blurred. Then there was total darkness and silence. “BABE, AVERY! WAKE UP!” David’s loud voice awakened her. His arms were wrapped around her restless body. His eyes were wide and his brows furrowed. But Avery couldn’t find the strength to say anything. So instead, she looked into his eyes and silently asked herself the questions she couldn’t dare ask him. She wanted to know why. “What happened to you?” David touched her forehead. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Avery shook her head. She was fine. She needed to be. “I’ll get you water. Stay in bed for now,” he told her. Saying nothing, Avery stood up and shuffled to the bed. She saw his cell phone on top of his pillow. Silent phone notifications lit up his phone screen.
She grabbed the phone. The contact calling was the same person who’d sent him the message. Fifteen missed calls, all from the same caller. She heard footsteps coming near the bedroom door, but there wasn’t time to put the phone back. Their eyes locked, and then David focused on the phone in her hand. “Your phone.” Avery reached out the phone to him. “Someone has been calling you fifteen times now.” Avery’s eyes never left him, but his eyes looked away. David snatched the phone from her hand. His eyes flickered as his hands started wiping the sweat from his forehead. But he still didn’t look at her. “It’s Jonathan. He’s been calling me regarding our recent case.” David handed her the glass of water. “So take a rest for now, babe. I’ll call Jonathan. Stay here. I’ll be back.” She just nodded and watched him as he rushed out of their room. The adrenalin and jealousy gave her body the strength to move and run for the door. Quietly, she watched him from the small opening. His gestures were familiar. Bright smile. Sparkling eyes. But she knew one thing for sure.
They were not for her this time. Avery was always confident. On top of her class, from elementary to her master’s class days. She always received praise for being intelligent and was regarded as one of the most eloquent speakers in the law firm. She knew how to hold an audience of lawyers. She was a quick thinker and a problem solver. But at that exact moment, she felt like nothing. Worthless. Hopeless. Dumb. Numb. Her mind was overflowing with silent questions. What did she do wrong? What did she fail to do? Did she lack something? Was she too much? All the what and whys. Her thoughts made her doubt herself and question her worth. The sound of approaching footsteps awakened her from her thoughts. Finally, she went to bed and rested against the headboard. David paced at the end of their bed. He tousled his hair and took a deep breath.
“Babe, will you be alright if I meet with Jonathan for an hour or two?” He bit his lower lip. “We badly need to discuss our plan for tomorrow’s court hearing.” She looked him in the eye and balled her left hand into a fist. She wanted to know why he had to lie. “Do you have to meet Jonathan at this hour?” She cleared her throat. Where are you going? “Can’t you guys just meet early tomorrow instead?” David stretched his neck, avoiding her gaze. “You know how Jonathan is, babe. He wouldn’t stop calling and texting unless I met up with him. A nervous wreck and a workaholic rolled into one!” Who was he really meeting? All she could say was, “Okay.” Avery was still in disbelief. The David lying to her face now was the same who promised her forever. The David she thought for an angel had turned into a lying monster before her. But she was too weak and so afraid. Too weak to confront him and so scared to get an answer she might not want to hear. “I have to go, babe! I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.” Like in a dream, everything floated and blurred.
But, Avery realized David had already left after hearing his car revving away from the garage. Her mouth opened, but no sound could come out. What was happening? It was just six months after they got engaged. They’d confirmed a schedule to meet with the wedding planner only yesterday. She stood fast, took her phone, searched her contacts, and pressed the call button. “Jonathan speaking.” “Hey, Jonathan! It’s Avery.” Her voice croaked. “I want to ask what case you and David scheduled for tomorrow?” “Ave! We don’t have any cases right now. The last time we worked together was before your engagement. I wished we had a case together. Working on a case with your man is much easier.” “Oh! I know!” A lump formed in her throat. “How’s Izzy and the kids?” “Well, Izzy is with her mom in the province. I’m on leave for three days babysitting. Daddy duties!” “Sorry to have bothered you, Jonathan! peck the kids for me and tell Izzy I said hi.” “I will. Send my regards to your man! Goodnight!” “Goodnight, Jonathan!” Avery leaned back against the bed and gave in to the silent tears that cascaded down her face and onto the bed sheets. Everything in her body ached.
Her heart pierced and broke into a million pieces. Her imagination was running wild. David was driving fast, excited to meet his “Jonathan.” An image came into her mind of their engagement picture. She couldn’t help but remember that day as she held the heart-shaped frame. Her heart was full of happiness and love. They both looked so in love. Their eyes sparkled. David was holding her hand, showing the engagement ring, an heirloom passed down from his grandmother to his mother and David for her. “You said you love me!” She shouted, her heart out. “You promised me forever!” She yelled like there was no tomorrow. “You said you want to spend the rest of your life with me!” She cried aloud until she couldn’t take it anymore. She threw the picture frame with all the strength left in her, and the glass shattered around her.
Between sniffles and heavy breathing, she pressed 1 on her phone. “Hello, are you at Jonathan’s already?” “Hey, babe. Yeah, I’m here now. Izzy says hi!” Avery pressed her chest and bit her lower lip. “Okay, I just want to make sure you arrived safely.” “Don’t wait for me, babe. It might take longer than I thought. Sleep well. Goodnight, babe!” “Goodnight.” That night, David gave her another first. The first time in their relationship that she cried herself to sleep. The first time she slept alone in their bed, her heart broke into a million pieces, like the shattered glass on the floor. AVERY WOKE UP, FEELING the cell phone in her hand. Her eyelids were feeling heavy and swollen. Seeing the pieces of broken glass on the floor started the waterworks. The time on her phone says 3 a.m. David hadn’t come back since last night. No text or even a missed call. Her chest heaved deep, followed by uncontrollable sobbing. Another first for her.
The David she knew would never let the clock strike midnight without texting or calling her. The David she fell in love with would never leave her alone at night. He would never leave her side, especially when she wasn’t feeling well, even with just a sign of a simple cold. Three a.m. turned into 5 a.m. Two hours had passed with her comparing what the David she knew would do and what David was now doing. Then, before tears started falling again, Avery heard his car parking in the garage. The shattered glass on the floor came to mind. She didn’t have time to clean up. Immediately, she pulled the duvet towards her body and pretended to be asleep. David entered the room quietly. Since he didn’t glance in her direction, he didn’t see her watching him. When he went for the light switch, Avery closed her eyes. “What the heck? !” David’s voice echoed in the room.
He stepped on the floor where the pieces of broken glass were. Avery was lying deadly still, pretending to be sleeping deeply. David’s face was scowling; he was clearly in pain as he removed a few pieces of glass from his foot. At that moment, Avery felt the fragments of broken glass stung on David’s skin where the pieces of her broken heart were. Each piece tried to fight back against the person who caused her terrible pain. “What happened here? Why was this broken?” David cursed and complained in a whisper. When Avery felt him slowly getting on his side of the bed, she prayed for restraint and strength. David must have believed that Avery was asleep. He must have been unaware she had been observing him all along. He’d cleaned the broken glass in fifteen minutes, sneaked in a shower, and placed his clothes in the washer.
She was so tempted to confront him and wanted so much to get answers. But she couldn’t seem to find the courage. Her mind had been telling her to go for it, but her heart was too afraid, too weak. So, though David’s body was next to hers, it was the first time in their more than a year of being together that Avery felt so alone. She couldn’t help but remember how and when their story started. She’d treasured their happy moments together over the last year, but now they were in danger of becoming just memories. She still couldn’t believe she was in the same bed with someone she trusted her heart to be married to, who, in less than twenty-four hours, seemed like a stranger. She tried hard to sleep again by assuring herself that David was beside her. But was he really with her? A question she felt was worth millions. Finally, though her mind was fighting the urge to go into a deep slumber, her body gave in.
“Ave, are you okay, babe? You’ve been pale and quiet since you blacked out last week.” “I’m good. I just easily get tired these days.” Avery replied as the corner of her eyes crinkled. She couldn’t understand how he could act so normally. David scanned her expression. “Don’t you think you need to go to the doctor?” She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll visit Shelly this week. I’m sure she can do a routine check-up on me if I can’t get a schedule with my primary.” David nodded. “How’s Shelly, by the way? How’s their wedding prep going on?” “I think she’s having second thoughts.” Avery watched as David slowly sipped his coffee. “I can’t blame her. She caught Art cheating again.” David’s eyes widened as he controlled the mug in his hand, and he almost spat out his coffee. She silently apologized to her friend. Avery couldn’t think of any better answer to David’s question. She didn’t say it to jinx her best friend’s wedding preparations.
She only wanted to get David’s reaction. “What do you mean, babe? Did she confirm it?” He focused his eyes on her. “We haven’t talked about the details. I’ll update you once I get the juicy part!” “Don’t you think Shelly wasn’t fully trusting Art because of what he’d done before? She needs to move past it so they can move on, especially now that they are getting married soon. What do you think, babe?” “Maybe. I hope it’s just a misunderstanding. It’s hard to break one’s trust. Especially since Shelly forgave him before. But I don’t know what I could have done if I was Shelly. I would never want to share you with another woman.” Avery stared at David as she held her bread knife. “I might kill her, or I might kill you, babe.”
“Um… Babe. We’re talking about Shelly here. It isn’t about us.” The color drained from David’s face as he watched Avery stab her pancake with all her might. He gulped the glass of juice and a bottle of water in less than ten seconds. His Adam’s apple bobbled up and down, wanting to pop out of his throat. Avery chewed her pancake without removing her glare from David. “Did I get you there?” Avery crackled. “I was joking! I know you wouldn’t even get a chance to think of doing such a thing. You wouldn’t give me any reason to doubt you. All the more to kill someone!” “Uh, ah, of course, babe,” David answered as little sweats formed on his forehead.
“Speaking of…” Avery pointed to her phone. “Shelly is ringing me now. ” She stood up. “Let me talk to her while you finish your breakfast. Then I’ll wait for you in the car.” She winked at David and walked toward the door. David nodded, his face flustered. He looked like he was about to choke. He took a deep breath when Avery started walking. But her loud voice echoed. “Shells! How are you? Are you going to kill someone this time? Who? I suggest you just cut Art’s manhood and balls into pieces!”