I Didn't Marry an Elephant, I Married the Whole Herd!

By Steela Morgan

The very fabric of my marriage with Tim had not only been ripped in half, it had been shredded along my tortuous journey in life with him. Trust, respect, compassion and love, which I thought Tim had possessed in the beginning of our new life together, had either never existed or had been transformed into disrespect, criticism, indifference and contempt somewhere along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steela Morgan
• Release date: Nov 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9780998257822

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I Didn’t Marry an Elephant,

I Married the Whole Herd!

Steela Morgan

Published by Steela Morgan at Smashwords

Copyright ©2018 Steela Morgan

Smashwords Edition

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Disclaimer

The names, personal identifiers and locations within this story have been changed, as has the author's name. Any reference to another person’s identity is purely incidental and unintended to imply his or her involvement in or knowledge of this story. This story does not attempt to suggest ways of identifying or dealing with narcissistic behavior. It is simply a depiction of how this toxic personality slowly destroyed a marriage.

Credits

All images or graphics are courtesy of www.pixabay.com, whereas text boxes and word art are original works by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 - My Early Years

Chapter 2 - The Very Beginning

Chapter 3 - That First Year

Chapter 4 - Third Betrayal

Chapter 5 - First Trimester

Chapter 6 - Long Second Trimester

Chapter 7 - Third Trimester

Chapter 8 - Angry Words

Chapter 9 - More Revelations

Chapter 10 - Realization or Regret

Chapter 11 - Trials

Chapter 12 - More Trials

Chapter 13 - Prognosis

Chapter 14 - No Resolution Yet

Chapter 15 - In Summation

Chapter 1 - My Early Years

Where do I begin? I guess I should start by saying that, no, I did not believe I had married an elephant or had become staked to a real herd. I had met a young man while in college, with whom I fell in love, became engaged and, ultimately, married many years ago. Though he was one of several suitors, our relationship just seemed to click, and I felt very confident at that time that he was the right one for me.

I was the younger of two children, with my sibling being a few years older. Unknown by me, my parents were not wealthy, but they managed to make ends meet and provided everything we needed to have a satisfying and safe life. Our home was a normal home, a happy one, with lots of laughter and good family time. Throughout my childhood, I had been taught to respect my parents and elders, which I did, taking my parents' instruction as sincere and love-borne. Though my parents had been raised in different church backgrounds, they were both Christian. I only remember seeing them have one serious disagreement as my mother sternly confronted my father about his lengthy stay in town and not getting home with a gift I was to take to a neighbor's birthday party. I was quite young and had been crying, refusing to go after the party had long started. My mother consoled me but insisted I show respect by taking the gift over once the party had ended. It was a way of helping me learn how grown-ups handled issues and how I was to follow suit. I am sure they had other disagreements, but they never argued in front of others or me. They did not believe in airing dirty laundry, as I had later heard my father state on occasion.

I was also taught to be an independent thinker, to stand up for what I thought was right and to be a survivor. However, I had learned very early to make sure that what I thought was right, was right to the best of my knowledge! I had experienced my share of stern looks and discipline to re-enforce that point! Part of my independence was borne from involvement in sports, both neighborhood and school-organized. Most of that participation involved team sports, and I quickly developed the team or corporate mentality, which my parents encouraged. I enjoyed playing with friends and teammates and helping my team win as much as I enjoyed winning myself. However, if no playmates could be gathered up on a particular day, that was okay, too. I simply occupied my time until my father came home from work and joined me in a quick backyard game of ball du-jour or catching lightning bugs or working on a brain-teasing puzzle as my mother prepared supper. She preferred me not to get underfoot, but I would help her set the table as supper approached. As I matured, I was expected to help with cleanup after meals.

Though I was a Daddy's girl, I loved my mother. She was always ready for a laugh or good joke, and she could deliver them, as well. Where my father was the real jokester in the family, he excelled in math, science and business etiquette, while my mother knew all about proper manners and decorating. With whatever help I needed, voluntary or otherwise, one of them had the topic covered!

Chapter 2 - The Very Beginning

I had first met Tim while doing laundry in the first floor laundry room of our apartment complex in New Orleans, Louisiana. While studying for college mid-term exams, I thought a cold Saturday morning in December in the laundry room would provide the perfect getaway to avoid distractions. That decision could not have been further from the truth! Though I was aware that someone had entered the laundry room, I kept my nose buried in my textbooks, trying to absorb as much information as I could. It was not too long after this person's entrance that an awkward attempt of starting a conversation began. I could not be bothered, so I politely replied with just a glance his way and continued to dig deeper into my study material. Finally, the clothes dryer holding my belongings honked its usual ending note, so I closed my books and went to discreetly retrieve my belongings. That is when the young man introduced himself as Tim Morgan.

Turning around and fully looking at Tim for the first time, I saw a somewhat attractive, young man about my age with brown hair and glasses. He was wearing blue shorts and a blue tee shirt, despite an outside temperature of 32 degrees F. Though it was warm in the laundry room, Tim stated it was even warmer in his apartment, which was the reason for his attire and trying to seek a cooler environment on a lower floor. I learned he lived just one floor above mine but on the opposite end of the same building. To my knowledge, I had never noticed him in the complex's elevators or on the grounds, but I likely would not have paid that much attention. I was too busy with my schoolwork and academic commitments. Yes, I was dating other students, but those relationships had just begun and were not serious. My upbringing had conditioned me to be loyal and, certainly, not to be a flirt. As I would learn later, Tim had seen me in the elevator several times and had wanted to meet me. He was only hoping that the spectacle-wearing, unwashed-haired and baggy-clothed figure with whom he was talking was one-in-the-same as the other he had admired in the elevator!

Tim asked if I would go to a movie with him. I hastily said I was going home for the Christmas holiday. Not wishing to take no for an answer, Tim asked if January would provide a better time to get together. I reluctantly said okay and we exchanged telephone numbers, but he was not to get my apartment number until I returned.

That Christmas was a nice break for me. Mid-term exams went well, and I was ready to spend some quality, cool-weather time with my mother and father. I