Even Love Forgot My Name

It Was Only a Parrot

"What happened to you?" Theodore's expression changed the moment he saw the blood. "Come on, we need to get that treated before it gets infected."

I instinctively stepped away. The distance between us suddenly felt like a chasm.

My voice was quiet, but there was no room for argument. "If we don't get divorced, what about Ruby?"

Theodore looked at me, confused. "Amanda, I've only ever treated Ruby like a sister. You know that. She's had a hard life in the Sinclair family. We've been married this long. Don't you know how well I've treated you? How could I possibly change because of another woman?"

I repeated the words silently to myself. 'Like a sister?'

My lips parted, but no words came out.

Whatever Ruby wanted, Theodore never refused. He stood by her every time, even encouraging Noah to grow close to her.

I thought, 'Why can't you just admit you've changed, Theodore?'

He didn't say anything else.

Instead, he called for the doctor to help me inside, then got back in the car and left.

…

As the engine's hum faded into silence, an emptiness spread through me, echoing louder than any goodbye.

My memories had mostly slipped away, but the ache in my body only sharpened, as if pain was all I had left.

I staggered forward, each step threatening to send me crashing to the floor.

Polly saw me and hurried over to support me. "Mrs. Calloway, you need to be careful. You've grown so thin these past few days."

She looked me over anxiously. "Should I call the doctor back?"

I shook my head. I had no one to blame but myself.

It was my choice to remain, all for the sake of love, so perhaps it was fitting that love would be the end of me too.

…

After my wound was cleaned and bandaged, I took the medicine they brought me and drifted into a hazy sleep.

I had no sense of time when the sudden shouting outside my door jolted me awake.

I barely reached the door before it flew open with a crash.

Ruby came rushing in, clutching a bloodied parrot in her arms.

The sight of those familiar blue feathers emptied my mind in an instant.

"Mrs. Calloway, I'm sorry," Ruby cried. "I was just playing with Noah when it suddenly flew at me. It scratched me and tried to peck me. I panicked and swung at it."

Her voice broke as tears spilled down her face.

"It hit a rock in the garden. There was something sharp there, and…" She sobbed harder. "I didn't mean to. I really didn't."

Then, she dropped to her knees in front of me. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Calloway. I'll accept whatever punishment you think is fair."

A second later, Noah came running in after her.

"Mommy, Ms. Sinclair didn't mean it!" he cried. "Please don't punish her!"

I stood frozen, unable to look away from the small, lifeless form cradled in Ruby's arms.

Bluebell, my beloved parrot, lay motionless and streaked with blood.

She was the little bird I had rescued—bright, lively, always clinging to me. In her own fierce way, she had guarded our home, mimicking voices and calling my name whenever I returned.

She had been Noah's favorite, too.

She had been the spark of laughter in our home.

My hands shook as I gently lifted her limp body from Ruby's grasp.

"Noah?" I asked softly, "Wasn't Bluebell your friend too?"

Noah's eyes filled with tears, but he could not say a word.

For a split second, something cold and bitter flashed through Ruby's expression.

Then, her face contorted, and her voice rose sharply. "If this bird's life truly matters that much, then fine—I'll trade mine for it!"

Before anyone could stop her, she threw herself sideways into the wooden armchair beside me.

The impact knocked me off balance, too.

Ruby collapsed to the floor unconscious, and the room erupted into chaos as the servants rushed forward to lift her up.

…

By the time Theodore got back, the entire house was in an uproar.

His face was icy as he ordered the servants to carry Ruby away. Noah followed behind them, sniffling hard.

Then, Theodore strode toward me, each step clipped and sharp against the floor. "It was only a parrot," he snapped. "Did you really expect Ruby to pay for it with her life?"