Read the weekly installments of the women of Club Opulence. Read through a seductive tale of love, sex, lies and strength.

Opulence:

A dark haze hovered above me. In my silence, I heard a furtive voice clanging against the throbbing walls within my cerebral. It was an evocative harbinger of more pain. Nevertheless, I ignored its message. Instead, I embraced the elixir that swirled in my glass. Resting my head back, I closed my eyes and begged for time to stop. While a weight pushed down on my stomach, I could feel my agony desperately attempting to claw its way out of my intestine. Therefore, I used my elixir to mix with my provoked emotions and lead me down a path of inurement. Then…I heard it. Knock. Knock.

“Tamra?”

Her voice sounded like poison. It seeped into my ear canal, thumping on my tympanic membrane and filled my skull with murmurous toxins. Knock. I winced.

“Tamra, it’s me.”

Me, me who lies. Me, who betrays. Me, who invades my attempt at mellifluous death. I gulped down my brown elixir and gritted my teeth as its harshness slapped against my esophagus.

“Listen, I know you’re still hurting. And…I know you’re still upset with me. You might think I was wrong but…I had to tell him.”

My elixir was spreading through me. It oozed into my bloodstream while her voice tried its best to break me. She, who would love to stand over me and watch as my broken shell bled out on to my beige carpet. I stood up and walked toward my front door. Knock. Knock. “Go away,” I uttered.

“Let me in, Tamra.”

“If I let you in, I fear what my hands might do to you. Let me drown my sorrows in peace.”

“Stop being a drama queen. You cheated. Even though I told your husband, you’re still the one who cheated on him.” She took a deep breath. Through her muffled speech, I could hear a slight chuckle escape her lips. “I mean, really, you should be thanking me.”

I dropped my glass, spilling my potion at my feet. Though cold, it felt as if the liquid burned through my skin. I was drenched in the treachery that dared to leave her lips. “You need to go.”

“It was killing you. The guilt…you couldn’t look at yourself. You were a different person. You were becoming someone the girls didn’t wanna be around anymore. We all made the decision that your husband needed to know. We only…” she sighed. “We didn’t think he would leave you like that. Clean out your bank accounts, burn your clothes. Ugh, he is such a bitch.”

“Shavon…”

“You yourself told us how bad the dick was with Scott. So, you met Lance and had the best sex in your life. You’re human. This is only a ripple.”

“Shavon…”

“Your husband leaving you only proves how useless he was in your life. Now that he’s gone, you can have a new and better life. He controlled you, berated you and emotionally abused you. You hated him more than we did. You’re better off, Tamra.”

“Shavon!”

“I’m tired of talking through this damn door. Let me in.”

I nudged my cracked glass aside and then placed my hand on my doorknob. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked my front door and stared at the slender woman with fair eyes, long legs and treacherous lips. Her summery weave cascaded down her wide shoulders while she nervously smiled and hid her hands behind her back. As I stood before her, I watched as she examined my rubicund eyes, ballooned cheeks and inebriated gaze. Yet, instead of allowing her to continue to judge my demeanor as well as have pity for my sadness, I made a decision. “Take me there.”

She cocked her head back as she stepped inside. “Excuse me?”

“You three hoes spent the last four weeks talking about that place. I pretended as if I wasn’t listening but I was.”

“Tamra…” Shavon closed the door behind her while she rubbed her left temple. Her smile dropped as her presence bubbled with fugacious compassion. “I know you’re going through it right now but I don’t think it’s a good idea—

“I’m gonna get dressed. Round up the girls.”

“Tamra, I’m serious. You’re not ready for Opulence.”

“I need—

“You need to stop crying over a man who mistreated you and get some rest.”

I pushed Shavon into my door. Though my eyes were blurry and my arms weak, I stood before Shavon with anger and determination. “Don’t tell me what I need. I didn’t need my trifling friends to conspire against my marriage. I didn’t need my husband to bleed me dry and leave me for his fucking trainer.” I threw my hands in the air and huffed. “His fucking twenty-two year old plastic tit having GED having, college dropout trainer. And, I didn’t need my fifth bottle of bourbon. But what I do need is a night in a club where the men are half-naked and the women are not judgmental, twenty-two year old plastic bitches. Take me there.”

Shavon’s smile wickedly returned. Pulling her cell phone from her jean pocket, Shavon quickly redialed the last person she spoke to. After two rings, I could hear the soft voice answer. “Hello.”

With her eyes locked on mine, Shavon orated, “She’s ready.”

To be continued.