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“Oh, now you want to talk?” Her voice goes high. “I’m sorry. You’re a day late and a promise short.”

The muscle in my jaw clenches hard, but my voice stays calm. “Open the goddamn door, Melissa.”

“No.”

I step back ready to snap that chain with a swift kick, when she pushes it closed and the noise of that fucking deadbolt sounds again.

“God dammit!” I shout as I shove my key back into the lock. I’m turning it open when I hear scraping noises on the other side. This time when I push against the wood, it doesn’t move at all.

Resting my forehead against the door, I take another deep breath, fighting for control. “Please let me in.”

“You promised!” She yells from the other side. “You looked in my eyes and promised.”

“Baby, I didn’t know how serious this was.”

“I won’t hear any more lies from you. Take your shit and leave. It’s over.”

She’s crying now, and all semblance of control I had is gone. This is not happening. Stepping back, I hit the door with my shoulder as hard as I can. A low growl escapes my throat on impact. The door doesn’t budge.

“Open the door,” I repeat.

Again, she shouts. “No.”

Stepping back, I kick it with the sole of my foot. The doorjamb shudders, but it doesn’t give.

“Don’t make me call the police,” she shouts from the other side.

That nearly sends me into a rage. My shoulders are rapidly rising and falling as I step back and survey this situation. The woman I love has thrown me out and is now threatening the cops on me. Am I having some kind of fucking bad dream?

The only possible way I might get in the house comes to mind. “I want to see Dex.”

She’s angry, yes, but if we can look at each other, talk it out... Maybe she needs to yell at me. I can listen, hear what she needs to say, and everything can go back to normal.

“I’ll talk to my mom. We’ll work out a schedule for you to visit him.”

My fist is pounding on the wood before I even realize what I’m doing. This is fucking idiotic, and I need to get on the other side of this fucking door and hold Melissa in my arms.

“Stop it!” I can hear the break in her voice, and it rips me apart. “You’re scaring Dex.”

Breathing hard, I rest my head against the wood again. Looking to the side, I can see the cracks that have formed around the doorjamb from my attempts to break it down. Sound filters through the spaces easily. The noise of my Melissa crying is just on the other side. I can’t take this.

“Melissa.” This time I’m pleading with her. “Please open the door.”

“No.” She says softly, between sniffles.

My heart is twisting in my chest. “What do you want me to do, baby? Just tell me what to do.”

“I want you to go away.” Her voice shakes as she says the words.

“I can’t do that.” I’m breathing hard now. “I love you.”

“Not enough to keep your promise.”

“I love you more than enough.” Gripping the wooden frame, I fight my emotions. “Let me in.”

“I’m done talking. Take your bags and go.”

Noises on the other side sound like Dex whining. I hear her go to him and attempt to soothe him. Stepping back, I look at the windows and consider breaking one of them. For several long seconds, I visualize myself doing it. I look around the perimeter and see every place I can force my way inside, go in there and gather her in my arms, make her stop saying these things.