Glory Gone

Nora Blythe

The connected call only carried the sounds of Jaime Walter and Derek Surrey’s pleasure. She did not seem to hear what I said. After an impatient click of her tongue, she hung up.

I lowered my arms and stared at my mother’s decomposed body. My strength felt completely drained.

Derek then sent me a series of messages. When I opened them, I saw videos of the two of them having sex that night. Their intimate sounds filled the room.

Derek smiled in the video and asked Jaime, “You really are not giving him the miracle drug?”

Jaime narrowed her eyes, looking unconcerned. “Not taking it will not kill her right away. Joseph Sheldon and his useless mother always act pitiful to get my attention. I want to see how long they can pretend.”

Their laughter almost crushed the last bit of reason I had.

When I was taken to the hospital, the doctor said my broken arm and infected wound had almost reached the point of no return. After a month in a coma, the doctor told me they had detected leukemia in my body.

During this time, Jaime refused to give my mother the drug. She also refused to see me.

A wave of helplessness washed over me.

I only regained my senses when the police and ambulance arrived.

“The time of death should be about a month ago. The deceased starved to death, made worse by her illness. Hurry and prepare the death certificate.”

After hearing the forensic doctor’s words, my eyes filled with tears. I lowered my head as they fell to the floor.

I had spent all my savings to treat my mother’s illness.

Jaime’s sudden appearance had once given me hope. She paid for my medical bills and provided my mother with the latest miracle drug from her company. Later, when her family pressured her to marry, I offered to marry into her family.

I obeyed her every demand to repay her. I tried my best to be a good husband.

I believed I could spend my life with Jaime until the male escort she screwed showed up at our home and told me to give up my place.

My mother was so shocked that she became bedridden after learning about it.

Jaime did not stop. She began seeing Derek, her first love who had returned from abroad. My attempt to confront her only earned her sarcasm.

“You did all that just to cure your mom, did you not?” She threw a stack of photos at my face. Her voice carried deep hatred. “My mother died on the operating table, and your mother was her attending physician.”