That’s not true, Jonathan said, his voice getting defensive. I invited you to be kind, to give you a good meal, to help you.
To help me, Elena repeated. Is that what you call it when you drive by someone on the street just to mock them?
When you make sure crowds of people are watching while you insult them. I never Jonathan started.
You did? A voice called out from the crowd. An older woman stepped forward. I saw you do it, Jonathan.
3 months ago downtown. You stopped your car and said terrible things to this woman.
I remember because I was so disgusted that I almost said something to you about it.
I saw it, too. Another voice said. A man in a gray suit nodded twice, actually.
You seem to enjoy humiliating her in public. Jonathan’s face was turning red now. She’s my ex-wife.
I had every right to to what? Elena interrupted, taking a step closer to him to punish me for 3 years.
To make sure I never forgot that you were successful and I was homeless to use my suffering as entertainment.
She turned to address the whole room now. Her voice strong and clear. When Jonathan and I were married, I supported him through everything.
I worked four jobs so he could start his business for damn job. I believed in him when nobody else did.
I sacrificed my own career, my own dreams to help him achieve his. People were nodding now.
Some of them remembered. Some of them had been there. And when he became successful, Elena continued, “He decided I wasn’t good enough anymore.
He divorced me, took everything, and left me with nothing. But that wasn’t enough for him.
For 3 years, he went out of his way to humiliate me whenever he saw me.
He wanted to make sure everyone knew that I was nothing and he was everything.
Stop it, Jonathan said, his voice shaking now. Just stop it. Why? Elena asked. Because the truth is uncomfortable.
Because all these people are finally seeing who you really are. An older gentleman in an expensive suit stepped forward.
