Page 2 of Dear Glory

“Dad! You cannot keep doing this!” my voice breaks as I grow increasingly overwhelmed.

“Well, if you stop messing around with those punks, I wouldn’t have to do this. Glorinda, what are you thinking inviting someone you just met into your apartment?! Have you learned nothing I taught you?!” he shakes his head, and I stagger backwards.He’s not hearing me. He never does!“Linus, thank you for keeping a look out on her place,” my dad nods and Linus salutes him, making my mouth drop open.

“E… excuse me? Did you just tell me that you have Linus watching my condo?!” I screech, stupefied at this all-new low!

“Of course, Linus. Who else? He’s the one decent guy you’ve ever been with… I still don’t understand why you two broke up!” he shakes his head and I clutch my stomach, feeling queasy.

How could he?! How could he?! How fucking could he?! AndLinusof all damn people?!

The man who took my heart and crushed it with only a few words? The man who can’t satisfy a fly in bed?! The asshole who purposefully keeps integrating himself into my life despite me kicking his ass to the curb?ThatLinus is theonlydecent guy I’ve ever dated?

Honestly, I could throw up, but it’s my fault. I chose not to tell my dad about why Linus and I broke up since I don’t want him in my business, but this is coming back to haunt and biteme in the derriere. I should have just told him that his protégé with the dick no bigger than a mosquito’s stinger had the sheer audacity to try and convince me after we were engaged that it would be his duty to have kids and since I couldn’t have any due to my hysterectomy at a young age that I was supposed to accept any outside children he brought home, since I wouldn’t be able to perform my, as he put it, “wifely duty” of making babies.ThatLinus?! The both of them can kiss my ass!

“Dad… I love you, but you have gone too far,” I seethe, fisting my hands at my side, holding back tears because I know my dad means well… I do, and it’s partially my fault for not being honest with him, but my God, do Ihaveto tell him the most humiliating details of my life for him not to act like this?

No…it would be useless to tell him. The problem isn’t the man he wants me to date. No, it’s that he doesn’t see me as a grown woman fully capable of doing anything, and I abhor it! I love him, but I detest his actions so much so I feel trapped…I cannot continue to live like this.

“Glorinda, I’m o?—”

“Get out,” I murmur, cutting him off.

“But sweetheart, your daddy is only looking out for you,” he rebuts.

“Yes Glorinda, your fath?—”

“SHUT UP, LINUS!” I snap then turn back to my dad.

“Dad, get out right now!”

“B—”

“NOW!” I squeeze my eyes shut, pointing to the door and finally… freaking finally I hear their feet shuffle to the door, but they stop when they reach the exit.

“Sweetheart, I know you’re upset with me right now, but I don’t mean any harm. I only want what’s best for you,” my dad sounds off and I shake my head.

“That’s the problem, Dad.Youwant what’s best for me, not whatIbelieve is best for me,” I deflate, and he goes to speak, but I don’t give him the opportunity. I simply make my way over to Linus’ box, pick the heavy thing up, and hand it to the jerk.

“Wait, Glorinda, I ju—” I shoot daggers at him, daring the bastard to say one more word. Linus knows better and zips his lips and ducks his head, leaving quietly as I shove them out the door, slamming it, making sure I add the chain link in place.

Tired and irritated, I fall back against the door, feeling like I truly understand why the caged bird sung. This bitter feeling of oppression, even by a person who loves you, is sickening, and I can’t stand another second of it.

I march to my kitchen where I snatch the phone off the receiver and wait for the dial tone to call my parents’ house. I know my dad can’t make it home that quickly in this New York traffic, so there is no way he’d pick up. Mom is usually home from the country club that she’s so proud to be the first Black member of, so I’m hoping she p?—

“Mrs. Cross, how may I help you?” she voices demurely.

“Mom!” I sob.

“Glorinda? Oh lord, what did your dad do now?!” I hear the exasperation in her voice and I start crying more as I explain the embarrassing events that took place. “That old coot! I swear!” she clicks her tongue and I’m sure she’s shaking her head.

“Mom, what do I do? I can’t keep living like this?! Dad is never going to let me grow up! I’m so sick of this!” I whine into the phone. “He’s smothering me.”

“I know love. I’m sorry, I know,” she shushes me.

“Mom, I need to get out of here… I really do. He’s got Linus watching my condo! Does he not understand how much of an invasion of privacy that is?!” I seethe through tears. “I just wish I could leave! Go far way and just?—”

“Then why don’t you, hunny?” she asks so simply, shocking me.

“Wh-what?”

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