Chapter 9: Filipina Wife Dealing with Abusive Ex-Husband

     The next morning came; there was a loud banging at the front door, along with the compulsive ringing of the door bell. My Filipina lady friend was already in the kitchen preparing some breakfast whilst I was still in bed drooling. I must have been so tired after all the sobbing, the fighting and the yelling with Jack the night before that I dozed off.
Knock, knock, knock! Someone was knocking on the door from my room. I said, “It’s open come on in” (It couldn't be Jack. I hoped) the doors was screeching and slowly opening. “Good Morning Beautiful, rise and shine!” oh my I felt so relieved that it was just my  Filipina lady friend. “Get up and let’s have some breakfast."  I replied, “Who banged the door and rung the bell so many times, earlier?” She goes, “Ah. I'm sorry that was one of my grand kids. They live in the trailer just behind my house. They come each morning to say goodbye before they go off to school for the day.”

     Whew good! She asked, “Why?” I said, “Nothing! I thought that it was Jack.” She goes, “Do not be afraid of him! He can’t hurt you anymore. He will go to  jail if he ever puts his hands on you.” I thank her for duly being there for me. She was not my close friend, but she was the only one I had.
  
     So she then asked me if I made up my mind yet! If I want to stay here, or leave the country and move back home to the Philippines. I said, “I have a job here in America, but I am not happy. Jack controls every aspect of my life. I think I would be much happier being with my family. So I think it is best for me to go home.” (I was sobbing again because I felt that my marriage had failed miserably. This was not I was dreaming of!) 

      My Filipina lady friend tapped my shoulder and said softly, “Honey, my dear! Stop crying. You can stay in my house for as long as you like, and do not worry. Do not ever go back to Jack Ash; he’s up to something no good. He treated you just like a piece of crap. So if he ever comes back; and begs and begs you to come home, tell him; no. You can live without him. However, I am not pushing you. It is your life. If you want to go back home to Philippines or go back live to with Jack, I will respect your decision. I will be here for you, Okay!”  I was so grateful to have her on my side, especially in my time of troubles like this.

    After breakfast, she contacted a few Filipina friends of hers to come over for swimming and a get together party. I think my elderly Filipina friend thought that this was my last time being together with them, so she kindly thought of calling all my Filipino friends to spend time with me before Jack comes and sends me back home.

     Four other Filipino friends came to see me that night, and of course. They were worried about me, especially after they had heard the whole story, and they just listened nervously. I didn’t need their compassion, nor sympathy for I would've been much better off being with my family. (If you were in my shoes, would you choose to be with Jack living unhappily, or would you choose to be with your family in the Philippines back home and being happy? Which one would you choose? What would you do?)

     While we were in the swimming pool, some were giggling. Others were chasing each other, and I was sitting in the corner with a poker face on! I was so sad with the whole situation. I still cared for Jack, did not want to end my marriage like that, but my guts were telling me to let just go. (I was just sitting there thinking that these are my trials that I have to face or overcome. I was certain that God would see me through!) I had been through different trials in the past,  and I must admit this was the hardest one I had yet to face.

      We all got rather hungry after swimming and went inside to have a nice tasty dinner (Wow, we Filipino's love to eat rice, pinakbit, adobo, pansit, pusit, sinigang and of course daing). While we were eating, everyone was giving me  good advice about what to do and what not to do.

After wards, they all went home, and it started to dim again. The house was so quiet and lonely. Just a few minutes later, a bright light came shining the window. I thought at first maybe it was just one of my Filipino friends who left something behind and came back to pick it up again! I heard footsteps outside, and the sounds started to come closer and closer. When it reached  the door, someone knocked twice!

     I ran to the bathroom just in case  it was Jack. I did not want him to grab me or hurt me again. I heard my Filipina friend  yelling my name and telling me that once I  finished using the bathroom to come to the living room because someone wanted to see me. I said, “Oh, dear! What am I going to do?” (I knew I was not crazy yet, but I found myself talking alone, again!). I just knew that it was Jack that wanted to see me. I was praying and hoping that everything would be fine. I was also hoping that I was going to hear  good news from him, that he had already got me a one-way ticket back to the Philippines just like he had promised.

     I came out slowly from the bathroom and went straight to the living room without looking further ahead. I heard Jack’s familiar voice. I came closer to him, but not close enough for him to grab me. My Filipina lady friend left us alone so that Jack and I could talk. “Hello sweetheart! I really miss you. I came to take you back home with me. I am so sorry, Please forgive me." Jack kept on talking, but I didn’t look at him. I sat down on the couch and continued looking down on the floor. 

Jack started reaching for my right hand. This time I looked at his face. He seemed to have been crying all night long. He knelt down in front of me and ...... 

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