Death on the Wedding Anniversary

I never realized he could talk so much.

He went over every possible situation that could happen before and after dialysis in excruciating detail. Listening to him made my head spin, like I was being sedated.

I slept for a long time and dreamed many dreams of the past, and Easton was in every single one.

When I first met him, Easton was tall and skinny, always leaning against the window, daydreaming during breaks. Looking back now, it feels pretentious. Back then, I would rush out with my beloved camera after class, pretending to shoot the scenery when the only subject I was framing was him.

Later, we were in the same club and spent more time together. I couldn't hide my feelings, so I impulsively confessed to him.

Back then, his features weren't fully developed, but he was already a beautiful boy. When he smiled, it was like the stars filled his eyes. He played an unknown melody on his guitar and then kissed me.

From that day on, every moment was sweet.

He went out of his way to take the bus with me in the mornings, brought me different breakfasts every day, and quietly convinced his mom to accept me.

Back then, Easton was the type to act without talking. I realized many things only after the fact.

We went to college in the same city and met every week, discovering new spots together, rain or shine. Whenever I saw something new, the first person I wanted to tell was him. We talked on the phone until my bill ran out, and even when we argued, we couldn't stay mad for more than a day.

In my junior year, while he was in his first year of grad school, I was going through a rough patch. To buy me the camera I wanted, he secretly worked three jobs and lost over ten pounds in a month.

I was studying for a certification exam. When I saw the gift after it was over, I touched his sunken cheeks and cried my heart out. The next day, I dragged him to the courthouse, and we married.

After he graduated, he turned down job offers to start his own business. The first six months were tough. He kept losing money, and no one believed in him. I sold the house my grandfather left me, ran around with him looking for sponsors and investors, and downing drinks like there was no tomorrow, but I still woke up early the next day to make him breakfast.

We were newlyweds then, exhausted beyond belief, but we never ran out of things to say. Every night, we fell asleep in each other's arms.

He never officially said he loved me. Even now, I still believe he did.

It wasn't earth-shattering, but we had the courage to give everything for each other.

Sadly, even that kind of love couldn't withstand the passage of time.

"You were smiling so sweetly in your dream," Landon said.

His words pulled me out of my drowsy state, and I felt like I was still dreaming.

If being pathetic were a disease, I'd be in the final stages, worse than any terminal illness.

I forced a smile and urged him to go out and get me some breakfast.

After rummaging around and not finding my phone, I slowly walked to the nurse's station to borrow one.

I needed to let Mary know I was in the hospital, or she'd freak out if she couldn't reach me.

The phone barely rang once before she picked up.

As soon as she heard my voice, Mary was furious. "Oh, so you remember who I am?"

I laughed and tried to soothe her, "There's only one person in the world who cares about me. I wouldn't dare forget."

"I'm coming to see you right now. Don't try to stop me, or I'll knock you out."

I smiled. "Fine, come over. And bring a charger while you're at it."

Before hanging up, I added, "Oh, and if anyone asks where I've been, just say I've been staying at your place."

"Why?"

I heard two voices, one from the phone and one right behind me.

Stunned, I turned around.

Easton stood behind me, his expression blank. Esther was on his arm, her face equally puzzled.

"Uh..."

I quickly hung up the phone, my mind racing to come up with an explanation.

The veins in Easton's temple bulged as he marched over and grabbed my arm, demanding, "What's going on with you?"

My post-dialysis body couldn't handle his grip. I tried to pull away but couldn't, so I winced and said, "It's just appendicitis. I had a minor surgery. You don't need to..."

"What are you doing? Let go of her!"

Landon came running over with a lunchbox, pulled me behind him, and stared seriously at Easton.

Easton flexed his fingers, glancing between us.

I knew this was his expression when he was furious.

He then said, "Rylee, explain it."