but the chaos outside was far from over.
“Open this door right now!”
Jessica screamed,
pounding her fists violently against the thick,
solid wood.
The loud,
rhythmic thudding echoed through my pristine foyer,
shattering the quiet sanctuary I had just reclaimed.
“You cannot do this to us!”
she shrieked,
her voice cracking with hysterical panic.
“We have no money!”
“My credit cards are declining!”
“Open the door,
Margaret!”
I stood perfectly still in the center of the hallway,
holding my glass of expensive red wine,
and simply listened to the sound of a parasite realizing its host was permanently gone.
Through the thick glass panes of the sidelight windows,
I could see Kevin pacing back and forth on the porch,
running his hands desperately through his graying hair.
“Jessica,
stop it,”
