Evening Gentleman by AnDerecco

We heard everything.
    NATHAN
    Oh my God.
                  Aiden started to walk out and he was met by Leslie’s fist. The hit caused him to stagger. When he came to himself he charged Leslie. I grabbed Leslie out of the way and Demarcus grabbed Aiden.
    NATHAN
Don’t you ever try to hit my wife!
                  I watched as Aiden and Demarcus walked out of the church through the side door.
    NATHAN
    Leslie I am sorry.
    BISHOP PARNELL
    I think you two should go home and talk about this.
    LESLIE
I don’t want to go home with him.
    NATHAN
We came together. Come on let’s go.
    LESLIE
Keep your hands off of me. You can leave. I will find somewhere to go.
                 
     
                  I sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Leslie to return home. I didn’t know where she was, what she was doing or whom she was with. I didn’t like this feeling. I wanted my marriage to work. I didn’t want to lose her.
                  Soon I heard the door turn. I rushed to the door and hugged her.
    LESLIE
    I forgive you. Ask me why I keep on loving you when it's clear that you don't feel the same way for me. The problem is that as much as I can't force you to love me, I can't force myself to stop loving you.
                  As soon as I heard those words I broke down crying. I held her so much tighter. In my crying I told Leslie how much I loved her.
    LESLIE
    How long have you been gay?
    NATHAN
    Baby I am not gay.
    LESLIE
How long have you been with Aiden?
                  The words were on my lips but I could not speak.
    LESLIE
How long Nathan?
    NATHAN
About two years.
                  She pulled herself from my grasp.
    LESLIE
    Did you always use protection?
    NATHAN
    No. I didn’t .
                  Before I knew it she gave me a left hook in the face.
    LESLIE
Do you know what danger you have put me in? Have you ever been tested?
    NATHAN
I am clean baby. I promise you I am.
    LESLIE
    How many men has it been? Never mind I don’t want to know. Why didn’t you tell me? I want to hate you but I can’t. God knows I want to hate you.
    NATHAN
Can I ask you something?
                  Leslie gave me an evil look.
    NATHAN
Have you ever cheated on me?
    LESLIE
    No! Hell no. Never! I gave myself to you when I married you.
                  I didn’t know what to think.
    LESLIE
    You can’t stay here tonight.
    NATHAN
This is my house. You can’t tell me that I can’t stay here.
    LESLIE
You can walk out of here or be carried out on a stretcher.
                  I looked at her and walked toward the bedroom.
    LESLIE
Where are you going?
    NATHAN
Can I at least pack some things?
    LESLIE
    Fuck no! Get your black ass out of my house. Go stay at the house you bought for another man.
                  I paused and looked into her soul. All I saw was emptiness. I knew by her finding out that she was incomplete now. I walked out of the house with a troubled mind.
     
     
                  I put my key into the lock at Aiden’s house. It would not turn. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. I called Aiden’s cell phone but I kept getting his voicemail. I didn’t know if he was home or not because the garage doors were down.
                  My entire world was turned upside down. I decided to rent a hotel room and stay there for the night.

     
     
     
     
     
     
    Bearing the Cross
     
                 

                  Leslie was asleep on the floor in the living room when there was a knock on the door. She didn’t get up to answer. The door wasn’t lock so a few of her co-workers and Bishop Parnell walked into the house. Bishop Parnell called out for her but there was no response. They slowly walked around the house not knowing what they may find. There she was – cradled in a fetal position wrapped in a blanket on