Bethany

“Oh, my God.” Bethany coughed as she pulled her badly burnt casserole dish out of the oven before placing it on the stovetop and turning the strong-smelling smoke away from her face. “This… isn’t right.” She muttered, looking at the mixture in the dish that could barely be considered edible food.

Bethany may be a homemaker, but she's not the best cook. She frequently burns what she makes, or even if she doesn't burn it, the food tastes awful most of the time, unless it's a very simple meal. She prefers cleaning and usually leaves the cooking to her husband, Joseph, though what he makes isn't much better. It's always something that can be grilled or a microwave dinner. Not very healthy.

Being a housewife for the past two decades had become incredibly monotonous for Bethany. It was the same routine over and over again. Wake up, make breakfast, clean, stay home, clean some more, then make dinner. The only things she looked forward to were going shopping or to church, both of which she usually did alone, since neither Joseph nor her youngest son, Danny, bothered to go with her.

It wasn't that she was happy. Just… tired. Was it too much to ask for a little fun in her life? Although she knew things wouldn't change anytime soon. It was God's plan for her to be a housewife… to be unhappy… to be unfulfilled… It was God's plan.

Unable to stand the smell any longer, Bethany stepped out onto the front porch for some fresh air. It was a sweltering summer day, not a cloud in sight—the perfect day for a dip in a cool pool or a day at the lake. But, as always, Bethany was stuck at home alone.

With a small sigh, she sits on the creaky steps, listening to the birds singing in the distance. If only she were a bird, able to be free, able to do whatever she wanted. Her eyes fall on the neighbor's house when she sees them go out to get the mail. She likes Kevin quite a bit. They're kind and treat her with respect. Not to mention that...