My Paralysis Was His Online Romance Story

At dusk, while I was painting, Tony came out of the bedroom.

"What made you decide to paint me?"

He stared at the canvas, puzzled.

"Three days from now is our wedding anniversary."

I turned my head.

"When the day comes, I'll take you camping."

Tony nodded. "You remember, seven years ago, that's where I proposed to you. On a camping trip."

Back then he'd set out flowers everywhere and gathered a crowd to cheer him on.

He'd said, "Through sickness and health, I'll never leave you, never give up on you! May you always bloom with the most beautiful smile, like this bouquet of roses in my hand."

But now.

He was preparing to leave.

And I had no smile left.

At dinner, Tony had made four dishes and a soup.

I froze.

A crisp cucumber salad, salted boiled shrimp, braised pork belly, spicy sautéed eggplant, and tomato and egg soup.

The first two were things Tony didn't like. The last two were things I didn't like.

But yesterday Hannah had said she wanted to eat them and hoped he'd make them, so today he had.

He was so eager to please.

"Try the shrimp."

Tony snapped a photo, then peeled one and held it out to me.

"I'm allergic."

I said.

For seven years we'd kept track of what the other couldn't eat, and never once slipped up.

Now Tony had forgotten the whole thing.

It seemed he was completely lost in his new love.

"Look at me. Work's been wearing me out lately."

Tony laughed, embarrassed.

But I knew.

It wasn't work wearing him out. It was how thrilled he got talking to Hannah.

Deep in the night, with his sleeping wife right behind him, he'd be on a voice call with a young, pretty girl.

How exciting for him.

Before bed.

Tony still meant to carry me to my bath, the way he always did.

I refused. "Bring me the crutches. I'll wash up myself."

"Are you sure?"

Tony looked stunned.

"Mm. I'll have to do it on my own eventually. I can't keep troubling you."

I nodded.

"Since when do you stand on ceremony with me?"

Tony shook his head and smiled, then turned and brought the crutches over. "Go slow. Be careful," he told me.

I hadn't used crutches in so long that they still felt strange. Not even ten meters, and it took me ten minutes.

Tony kept watching the whole time, and only once he saw me go into the bathroom did he sit down and pick up his phone.

There was a faint, relaxed, happy smile at the corner of his mouth.

He must have seen a message from Hannah.

I tried to lean against the wall to wash, but one careless move and I went down.

My leg split open. I couldn't feel it.

But my arm burned, a big patch of skin scraped away.

My forehead struck the floor and bruised.

I didn't cry out.

Because.

In two more days, I'd be on my own. I had to get used to it.

When I finished washing and came out.

Tony calmly set down his phone, told me I'd done great, then took out three sleeping pills.

"Just bought them downstairs."

"The doctor said this kind works well. Guaranteed to keep you out till morning."

He didn't notice the bruise on my forehead at all. All he wanted was for me to fall asleep quickly so he could get on his voice call with Hannah.

I turned my face away, holding back the sting in my eyes, and answered, "I don't want to take these pills anymore."