Resilience

         It was Friday and Bridget felt that she deserved to leave work early. Walking to her car, Bridget had to pull out her sunglasses because the sun on this August afternoon was blinding. Today her outfit matched her new BMW; she was wearing a beautiful teal silk blouse, which was the same color. Matching that was a pair of crème-colored cotton pants that hugged her slender, size three hips. Her wavy hair, which women envied about her, was held back to show her favorite pair of diamond earrings. Though she didn't look like it, Bridget was thirty-four, often mistaken to be ten years younger. Above all, Bridget was excited to tell her husband, Dan, of her new promotion. He will be excited, too, she thought.

         Bridget’s car was just thirty yards from the building in which she worked, making it easier to beat the rush hour drive home. In addition, her job allowed more independence to be able to leave as she wished. When she entered her car and started it up, it was not long before the air conditioner took full effect, assuring the rest of the drive would be comfortable. Bridget put in a Coldplay cd to prepare her for a relaxing weekend she knew she would be enjoying. She did not yet know how she would spend the weekend, but that didn’t matter to her.

         Twenty-five minutes into the commute, Bridget was getting off on the exit to the subdivision where she lived. She was anxious to kick off her heels and sit back on the leather couch to hear of the day’s happenings on Fox News. She considered planting herself in one spot and ordering pizza. Pulling into the gated community that provided extra comfort in a more dangerous world, Bridget was getting closer to leaving the week behind for two days of rest. As she approached her driveway, she noticed that her husband, Dan had parked his car in the driveway outside of the garage. That’s strange, she thought. Maybe he has a few errands to run.

         Out of the car, now, Bridget had the house key in her hand, walking towards the front door. She walked in, apparently, without Dan knowing because he didn’t greet her as he normally would when she gets home. Dan left for work before her and so arrived home before her, as well. Sometimes, though, he arrived later because his job revolved around his clients’ needs. Bridget headed upstairs, thinking that is where she would find Dan to ask him what he wanted for dinner.

         The bedroom door was closed, so she opened it, thinking Dan was just getting ready for a shower. Never in a thousand years would Bridget have been prepared to see Dan, naked, on top of a young blonde that she had never seen before. Horrified and still unnoticed, Bridget scurried downstairs, trying hard not to cry. Her face was pale and inanimate, as she wanted to keep her composure. Where she was going to go, Bridget did not know. She got the keys out of her pocket once more and started to walk out the door. Bridget acted against all compulsion by leaving because she wanted nothing more than to throw those two out of the second floor bedroom window.

         After storming out of the house, Bridget got into her car, ready to take off without a destination in mind. However, she just sat in the driver's seat and whimpered with her face buried in her hands. No matter how good things seem, there is always something to bring me down, she reminded herself. As devastating as this was to her, Bridget knew that even this could not keep her down.

         She was eager to tell Dan that her new promotion made her the lead attorney at her firm. People thought of Bridget as the best divorce attorney money could buy. I’m a strong woman, she thought. Bridget wanted to believe that she could take care of herself and does not need anyone. What she had seen hurt her but she was determined not to let it bring her down. That little thought was enough to convince Bridget to lift her head up and take care of business. Only this time, it would be personal.