Cathedral City

Cathedral City. Bonnie loved the sound of it. Majestic. Like Camelot, in a way. She was surprised that there hadn’t been a song written about the place. It just had a ring to it.

Bonnie’s second best friend, Denise, had moved there eight years ago. Right after her divorce from her third husband, Bruce. Denise loved it. “You can’t beat the weather, Bon.” And practically the week after her move, Denise had met Ricky. Now they were living together in a condo that had an extra bedroom and a community pool. Ricky had even put in a little wet bar right next to the powder room.

Cathedral City. 

It was time. 

Bonnie sat up in bed and lit her 29th Pall Mall of the day. Fuck it, she thought tiredly, as smoke streamed from her nostrils.

She needed to quit. At least limit it to 15 a day. But it’s hard to cut down when your husband is cheating. Again. 

Bonnie knew it the minute she laid eyes on her at Roy’s company picnic two months ago. Her name was Tanya and she was petite and energetic and showed just enough plump cleavage to give her an edge. Just his type, Bonnie thought, as she'd nodded hello to her husband’s newest mistress. 

Thing is, this time she couldn’t even summon up the energy to get mad. The first time it happened she threw her Gilly’s ashtray at him. 7 stitches in his growing forehead. She’d moved out when she found out about the second. But money was tight and he was apologetic and it just seemed simpler to try again. 

She felt like all her life she’d been mending her broken heart. And each time it got easier. Probably because the love she gave was smaller. Handing out bits of it to test the rocky waters. Living small. That’s what she was doing. She used to dream of a life worth celebrating and now she just tried to make it to payday. 

Cathedral City. She could be there by morning. Pack a couple bags and leave a note: Headed to a better life. Give Tanya my best. 

As Bonnie tossed her suitcases in the backseat of her Camry, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Hope. Just a small flicker in her chest, but it was there. She smiled her first real smile in ages.

The night was warm and she rolled down her windows, letting the wind tangle her blonde-ish hair. She flipped on the radio and laughed out loud. Lita Ford’s, Kiss Me Deadly, was playing. Good luck omen, or what? She turned it up and sang along with whatever words she could remember. 

Bonnie hadn’t felt this happy in years. Decades maybe. She felt light. Her hope grew. This time it would be different. Her life had been a series of Roy’s and half efforts. This time, she’d do it right. She’d learn from her mistakes. 

Roy already felt like a memory. By the time she reached Cathedral City, he’d be nothing but the butt of a joke.

It’s funny, she thought, how much easier feelings become. The very first time she got her heart broken (by quarterback, Doug McClaren) in high school, it ruined her. Night after night she cried. She embarrassed herself by calling him until he told her stop. And she even called twice after that. But, she thought, as the years go by, you realize that feelings are fleeting. Heartbreak doesn't stay with you like you think it will. All emotions are short-lived, momentary really.

And with that Bonnie lit a Pall Mall, realizing suddenly that the same could be said of her moments of happiness. They were just that. Moments. 

She turned off the radio. And focused on the road ahead. 

Cathedral City. 18 miles.