Fractured Loyalty, Rekindled Desire

After a long silence, he still didn’t hear me speak and let out a few heavy breaths.

It was his way of reacting when irritated, though he held it in for Althea’s sake.

He placed the warm milk on the nightstand and said, “I know you’re not asleep. Drink the milk later; it’ll help you sleep.”

He added, “And stop posting all that nonsense on social media. Do you want the whole world to see it and judge me? Would that make you happy?”

I knew him well.

When he said that, he held back his anger, which was almost laughable.

He remembered Althea was sick, remembered feeding Althea’s dog and even remembered telling me about the wedding ceremony with her.

But he forgot that today was our seventh anniversary.

He rushed back just to ask me not to post on social media so I wouldn’t embarrass him.

He came to inform me that he was having a wedding with another woman.

Darius hated dealing with cold wars. Whenever we fought, he stayed late at work or slept in the guest room.

He only returned once I had calmed down, leaning against my shoulder and acting spoiled.

“Lol, my queen, the most beautiful and kind. Please, forgive me,” he would say.

This time was no different. He turned and started walking toward the guest room.

But there had never been a day when I forgave him again.

Just as he reached the door, he hesitated and turned back. He stood beside the bed, leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Don’t be petty,” he said. “Althea is about to die. My wedding with her is just a formality.”

He continued, “Next month, I’ll marry you. Our wedding will be the grandest in the city and you’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

My soul floated beside him, hearing his empty promises. I broke down and screamed, “Look at me! I’m already dead! The bride you’re talking about is gone!”

“The man who once ran out into a storm to buy me medicine when I sneezed, how can you not realize I’ve died right in front of you?” I cried out.

But he couldn’t hear a word. He tucked the blanket around me and said, “Why are you so cold? Cover yourself up properly so you don’t catch a cold.”