Category: relationships
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Cracked Roots & Roses 40: First Step
I took the letters with me to work that following day. After I finished the service, I would discreetly take the letter from my apron pocket, give it to them, and tell them to read it when they got home. After all the letters were distributed to the 20 names, there was nothing left to…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 39: Instructions
A few days later, Tam called and said, “I have something to tell you.” I said, “Okay, spit it out.” She said, “While you were dating so-and-so, he was dating three other women at the church—well, three that I know of.” Even though I wasn’t with him anymore, I was suddenly disgusted at the thought…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 38: Fish
I sat in church, trying to choke back hot tears, as he sat there with another woman in that same dingy sport coat. When I was briefly dating him, I thought he was a great catch because he was a minister and physically attractive. The problem was, I had created a fictional character in my…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 37: Gaslit
When he would call from time to time, he would dominate the conversation, which was fine because I kinda liked hearing about various recording artists and their secret lives. He had years of stories about infidelity and scandals involving some pretty high-profile names. I didn’t love this, as my image of them was somewhat tarnished.…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 36: I’m not impressed
It’s amazing how reliving your past helps you see where it all began and how things happened. While at the spa, I started talking to a musician from my church. He was the first narcissist I had ever met. I see it now. At the time, I had no idea what the word meant, nor…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 35: Michelle
I was booked to do a basic manicure one afternoon for a client named Michelle, so I went to the relaxation room to get her. When I called her name, and a tall blonde wearing a robe—having just had a massage—stood up, smiled, and said, “That’s me!” We went to the manicure room and got…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 34: Connections
Working at the spa put me in front of so many amazing women and men. I have formed lifelong friendships with a few—one of them is reading this now. Her name is Bridgette, and I consider her my friend. She never looked down on me, and I never felt judged because I wasn’t refined and…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 33: Pam and Sandi
My problems with Denise lessened, and all it took was for a house to sell. Unfortunately, she had a new target and only bothered me when she got really bored. I no longer wanted to leave the spa at all because it felt like I should be there, at least for the time being. I…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 32: Denise
I started paid training at the spa the Monday after graduation. My last unemployment check came that Friday, and my first check from the spa arrived the following Friday. I didn’t miss a payment and never went hungry. I took the three-hour drive down to Springfield on a Sunday to take the state board exam…
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Cracked Roots & Roses 31: Faithful
So that was it. I was to be a nail tech, even though I had never had a manicure and had no idea if I would be able to get a job or make any money. This was uncharted territory. I didn’t know any nail techs except for the trainer at the spa I had…
