When the Shoes Fit

By Alivee Powell Williams

The stories in this book deal with love, relationships, disappointments, depression, domestic abuse, and hope. These are just some of the things women of every background experienced at one time or another, and they feel there is no way out. Jesus said, "I am the truth the way, and the life." It is through him that hope, success, peace, and joy are found. The stories are powerful and real. My prayer is that someone's life is changed for the better by reading this book and that it will bring glory to God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644629406

Book preview

cover.jpg

When the Shoes Fit

Alivee Powell Williams

Copyright © 2019 Alivee Powell Williams

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-64462-939-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64462-940-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About the Author

I want to thank you, Jesus, for never leaving me, for always having your hand on my life, and for guiding me always.

Chapter One

Lenise: Love at First Sight

Lenise sat on the worn-out sofa, eating barbecue pork ribs from the restaurant around the comer of her home while thinking about how her life had become so messed up and depressing. She used to be slim and shapely, but now, she had become morbidly obese and didn’t care how her hair looked anymore. It was thick, coarse, matted at the roots, and had straight strands on the ends. She hadn’t been to the beauty salon in four months. Her mahogany skin was dry and ashy from lack of skin moisturizer, and she hated her facial features because while growing up, she was always teased and picked on because of her enormous lips, big nose, and slanted eyes, which almost looked too big for her face.

She was raised by her grandmother since her mother suffered from an extreme case of mental illness and her father left home when she was very young. Nevertheless, her grandmother loved her very much and took her to church every Sunday. She always tried to encourage and validate Lenise, but Lenise never listened to her grandmother because the spirit of rejection had set in and she held on to it like a best friend.

When Lenise was twenty-five years old, her grandmother passed away. She felt so alone and desolate even though she was already living on her own. She stopped going to church and started hanging out in the streets, looking for someone to fill the void that had been missing in her life ever since her father left home, but the affairs never lasted.

One night, she met Tony who was tall, slender, and handsome. They both were intoxicated that night. They went to a cheap hotel drinking, loving, and saying words of love, which he later regretted. He made the mistake of giving her his phone number which was something he never did with one-night-stands.

After six weeks had passed, Lenise informed him that she was pregnant. He was devastated. Tony was sure he had worn protection that night and wondered how this would have happened. He asked her if she was willing to have an abortion, but she said no; therefore, they decided to get married. He felt it was the only right thing to do.

They got married at the courthouse, witnessed by his parents, his brother, and one of her friends. She didn’t know where the rest of her family was since she was an only child and her grandmother didn’t discuss the whereabouts of the rest of the family which she assumed lived in another state.

Tony’s father walked over to him after the ceremony and said, I knew all that running around would catch up with you, but I’m proud of you for doing the right thing.

Tony just nodded his head. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t because he knew if he opened his mouth, he would start crying. So he just nodded when anyone said anything to him. He felt miserable inside.

Things went well for about three months, and then Tony found out that Lenise had lied to him about the pregnancy. After this, his whole attitude toward her changed. After work, he would change clothes and immediately go back out, sometimes, staying away for three or four days at a time. They never talked anymore even when Lenise would try to have a conversation with him. She didn’t work because Tony took care of all the bills and her personal needs. She wondered why he wouldn’t just leave.

Her short stubby fingers held on to the pork bones as if she were clinging to life itself as some of the barbecue sauce dripped on her oversize T-shirt and gray stretch pants which looked like tights with the feet cut out. She had taken her dry, ashy feet out of her fuzzy house slippers, and in between bites, her breathing sounded as if she had a sinus infection.

Lenise looked around the home Tony had bought right before they married. It was a very nice starter home, but now, it looked so depressing and drab. She used to keep the home in an immaculate condition, but now, she kept the shades pulled down which had become dusty and grimy, not letting any sunshine in. Several piles of dirty clothes cluttered the dining room floor, and dirty dishes covered the dining table as well as the kitchen counters because she had not washed the dishes for a week.

As Lenise finished off the last bit of pork ribs, the front door suddenly opened, letting the sun in which was so bright, Lenise had to squint her eyes. It was Tony who was accompanied by his best friend, Cecil. Lenise looked down and noticed how distorted their shadows looked on the gold and black carpet.

Where have you been? Lenise yelled as pieces of pork flew from her mouth which was greasy from the pork ribs.

She picked up a napkin from the coffee table and began wiping her mouth and hands with it. As she stood up, the sofa cushion under her rose to its original fullness.

Where have you been? she asked again.

As Tony walked to the dining room, Lenise followed him, moving her large hips in a seesaw motion; it looked as if there was a pillow tied around them. Cecil shut the front door, sat down on the sofa, and lit a cigarette. Lenise turned around and glared at Cecil as she took a quick survey