Discovery Archives - Betrayal and Acrimony

September 28, 2025September 28, 2025

One Man’s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Self-Discovery

While in a barbershop, Julio walks in complaining about his girlfriend and saying how things have changed drastically. They went from having sex multiple times a day to several times a week. Julio isn’t happy with this turn of events. Julio shares how he has forewarned his girlfriend about having his needs met elsewhere. The girlfriend’s default response is, “I will give you some in the morning”—empty promises. Physically, Carmelina is everything he wants, although he finds other areas lacking, such as in the toxicity department. Julio’s ex-girlfriend of twelve years is everything he has ever wanted: physically captivating, bold, over the top with drama, although possessive. The ex-girlfriend is the only woman he has ever loved. Julio mentions how he has been with countless women and no one has meant anything to him. He reminisces about how for his 12th birthday, his grandfather along with his mother decided to gift him a prostitute, Lolita. Julio’s mother was a madam and owned two brothels. Every day for two years, Julio would go to the brothel and have sex with Lolita. Lolita was about ten years older. Julio was obsessed with sex. I asked Julio why he had sex with countless women. He paused and said he was looking for love. As the years passed, Julio became depressed and tired of running through women. He began to understand ethereal ties and energy and decided to become celibate for six months. During this time, he used sage, palo santo, and meditated.

March 31, 2021March 31, 2021

Ideal Wife

Gustavo was an obedient son. He married Karissa based on the guidance of his parents. Karissa was solely twenty years old with limited life experiences. Following the nuptials, the couple left Ecuador for New York City. Karissa worked as a hairdresser in the Bronx until she was able to purchase her very own salon. Gustavo secured work as a custodial worker at a local community college. They had four children born and raised in New York. In all the years of marriage, Karissa never experienced an orgasm or had any idea how to pleasure herself. Gustavo and Karissa respected one another and were fiscally responsible for their children. They coexisted. Thirty years into the marriage, Gustavo mustered up the courage to tell Karissa, I am moving back to Ecuador. I have never loved you. I only married you because my mother believed you to be the ideal wife. Gustavo’s confession left Karissa lost for words. There were no tears or pleading only a jarring silence. Karissa’s business provided far more than sustenance, it provided communal support and understanding.

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Optical Illusion

Marisol worked as a hairdresser in Harlem. She had a long-distance love in D.R. and locally someone to keep her warm at nite. Marisol traveled to D.R. between three and four times a year. Every trip to D.R. represented a considerable financial investment. The end goal was to have the boyfriend secure a visa and ultimately marry him. The boyfriend obtained an appointment with the consulate to determine whether he would secure a visa. On the last trip to D.R., Marisol patiently accompanied the boyfriend to the consulate and anxiously waited for the boyfriend to be granted a visa. The visa was denied, and the boyfriend told Marisol how he really felt about her. He told her how he never loved her and how she was a placeholder in his life. The only reason he decided to enter into a relationship was in hopes of securing entry into America. Marisol felt disenchanted. Her world with him crumbled in minutes. At that moment, Marisol could not understand why the boyfriend felt such disdain toward her.

March 8, 2021March 8, 2021

Turning a Blind Eye

Alondra and Oscar have been married for twenty years. It’s been an amicable marriage until Alondra saw video footage of cameras installed in their home. Alondra witnessed her girlfriend in her house with her husband. Ramona, the former friend slept with Oscar. According to Alondra, Ramona’s most compelling attribute is the junk in the trunk. When Alondra confronted Oscar about the infidelity, his only response why get a hotel room when I have a house. Alondra contemplates leaving although, her hairdresser advises against it. The hairdresser advises turning a blind eye. Sooner or later the novelty will wear off. Recognizing Ramona is only interested in money and Oscar in unloading. Alondra decides to take matters into her own hands and change the game.

March 1, 2021March 1, 2021

Stranger

Priscilla and Fernando were engaged to be married. The courtship lasted three years. One day Fernando informed Priscilla the engagement was over and provided no reason or explanation. Priscilla did not comprehend why the commitment ended. Days later while scrolling on social media, Priscilla came across a post of Fernando with his new girlfriend and nuptials announced. The turmoil Priscilla felt was unbearable. The grief caused her intestine to rupture, sending her to the hospital. She felt humiliated, defeated, and everyone knew. Fernando married a well-heeled American woman. Priscilla found solace in her faith, and it is what helped her prevail. She was able to flourish and witness abundance in countless ways.

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021

Melancolia de mi Vida

Santiago drinks in excess to numb himself, to forget the pain. Sometimes, while in a drunken stupor memories of his childhood abuse sober him up. He has long forgiven his mother, although the pain lingers. Disdain and lack of compassion were his reality. Santiago felt his mother hated him more than she could ever love him, and punishing him is how she felt alive. She was enamored with being the center of attention. She would conspire against family members and fabricate tales. As the family matriarch, she was revered. Her influence was such that everyone took her word as gospel. Any family member she could not control, she would influence others to turn against them and a witch hunt would ensue. Habitually, she manufactured faults within her daughters-in-law. Genova was in constant competition with wives, mistresses, and girlfriends. There was solely one mistress who she never dared utter a word. Raisa was a drug queen pin and everyone knew she was just as ruthless as she was cool. Raisa was the lover of Genova’s playboy son, Rafa. Rafa had a wife, four young sons, and a string of women, one prettier than the next. Raisa never bothered Rafa’s wife, she respected her, everyone else was fair game. Raisa would have Rafa followed, show up unannounced and find him in compromised situations. She would smack him and call him a come mielda. Rafa feared her, he was keenly aware Raisa carried a gun at all times.

January 4, 2021January 4, 2021

Beautifully Flawed

Despite Pauly’s parents’ reservations about Xiomara, he asked for her hand in marriage. His parents wanted someone with similar values, someone like them. Upon becoming engaged Pauly and Xiomara decided to remain abstinent until their wedding nite. The engagement was an elaborate affair with a seven-course dinner. Given Pauly’s deeply rooted pious upbringing, they agreed on a catholic church, requiring a marriage preparation program. The focus of the program is developing a sacramental marriage that will last a lifetime. Thereafter, the wedding reception was held at a very coveted establishment with two hundred and fifty of their closest friends. While in Hawaii, on their honeymoon Xiomara discovered she was pregnant. Xiomara was certain the child wasn’t Pauly’s given they had not been intimate in months. Throughout the honeymoon, she feigned being sick as a means of not consummating the marriage. Upon returning from the honeymoon, Xiomara confided in her parents about the pregnancy. Xiomara’s mother Dona Elsa provided two options (1) terminate the pregnancy or (2) lie about who the father is. After much deliberation, Xiomara told Pauly the truth, and the marriage was annulled.