It was pouring outside. Vera sat at the bar. Although she felt out of place, it was better than being at home, crying over Dave. What a shock it had been when she discovered that he’d been paying other women for sex. I thought we had a happy marriage and a healthy sex life.
“Vera? What are you doing here?” It was Dave.
I should ask you the same question.
“You shouldn’t be here. I’ll call a taxi.”
“Why can’t you take me home?”
“I have an engagement.”
She slid off the stool. “Yes, I think she just showed up.”
100 Words
This story was inspired by an article about wives and girlfriends who discovered that their men were paying for sex. We often hear stories about the women in the sex industry, but we don’t hear much about the women whose men pay for these services.
This was written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields For more details, visit Here. To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit Here.
Source: The Telegraph
Notes to Women 
No one is a winner in this situation.
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You’re right, Iain.
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I liked the angle you took with this story.
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Thanks, Lisa 🙂
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Dave wants to explore. Let him go. There will be others.
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It’s not that easy. She still loves him. If she leaves the marriage, it will take some time for her to heal and to move on.
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But he is going outside. What is there in marriage?
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You’re right, Abhijit. He is going outside of their marriage and as far as I can see there isn’t anything left for her to do except to leave. It’s hard for some women when they leave their marriages, though. Their friends become his friends and they feel ostracized. They are made to feel as though it was their fault that things turned out the way they did. Some women have affairs because they need to know that other men find them desirable. Some of them remain because they don’t want the stigma of divorce which is an indication of a failed marriage and they’re worried about what friends, family would think of them. So, they would rather stay married and suffer in silence. It’s a sad state of affairs.
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True. I agree. Any separation is complicated. Thank you from sharing a woman’s angle.
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You’re welcome, Abhijit 🙂
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Nice take! Such matters hurt in marriage.
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Thanks, Shilpa 🙂 and you’re right.
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Dear Adele,
This sounds like a marriage that’s doomed. Dave’s a real prince. Hope she gets out while she can salvage her self-esteem. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You’re right about the marriage being doomed. And she should leave with her self-respect intact. Thanks 🙂
Shalom,
Adele
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It can’t be love she feels for him but fear of being alone… though she must get out of that if she wants to enjoy life.
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You’re right, Dale. The fear of loneliness, not love may be her reason for staying with him. I agree with Rochelle and you that she should leave.
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It is scary to find one’s self alone after many years. That first step is huge.
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You’re right and that’s why a lot of women are hesitant to leave. But, once they make that first step, it gets a bit easier.
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A sad reality.
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Yes, it is.
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I think she’s searching for something of herself in Dave.
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Embarrassing and sad for Vera, Dave doesn’t respect her or their marriage, and worse than that he is a part of an industry that enslaves women and girls. Well-written story of the other side of things.
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Thanks, Brenda. Until I read the article, I never thought of how the sex industry affected wives and girlfriends. I’m happy that someone decided to write their stories.
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Good, thought provoking story. I think in that situation I would give him an ultimatum; come home now, with me – or face a huge public row, then and there, in the place where he is due to meet the sex worker. He needs bringing up short, and being forced to realise the pain he’s causing. He’s a louse, but not necessarily an irredeemable louse!
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Thanks, Penny. I guess Vera doesn’t like public rows or giving ultimatums. I don’t know what course of action she is going to take. She may leave him or try to get him to see the pain he’s causing and urge him to go for counseling. Right now, it doesn’t seem as Dave is considering what his actions are doing to her. Perhaps her leaving him might jolt him.
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Well, I hope it is not loved but perhaps a bit of revenge. Time to dump the cheater. Nice take on the prompt.
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Thanks, Jo :). And you’re right, if there’s nothing to salvage in the marriage, then it is time to move on.
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A market requires supply and demand. The man’s demand for the prostitute’s services does, in a real way, make him complicit in the subjugation of women. This wife has to endure humiliation as well as worries for her own health and security ( and that of her children). It is a difficult reality to face and I hope she can push beyond it to a better future.
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Yes, it’s hard for the women whose men are using this service. In this story, the wife is humiliated, her health and overall well-being are at stake. Fortunately, there aren’t any children involved. She will have to do what is best for her, even if that means facing an uncertain future alone.
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The trouble is she can’t just stop loving him the same moment she finds out he is betraying her. But the struggle to stay away from him will be worth it.
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You’re right, Jilly. Her love didn’t die when she found out about his betrayal. She will love him even after she leaves but in time, she will move on.
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