Skies We No Longer Share

The sounds from the neighboring ward finally quieted down, and Cecilia sat still on her hospital bed. Her phone rang with a call from her boss.

"Cecilia, your request to transfer was approved. You're moving to Riverie City. Be there in two weeks."

"Got it, boss. I'll be on time for Riverie City," she replied and hung up.

Just then, Yvonne barged in. Her lipstick was wiped off, and her makeup was a total wreck, but she looked at Cecilia with a challenging smirk. "Who's off to Riverie City? You? Trying to run away from home again?"

Cecilia's stomach turned at the sound of her voice. "Leave. I don't want to see you," she said with a scowl.

"Cut the act, Cecilia. I know you woke up and saw everything with Jeff and me. You're well aware he hasn't loved you for ages. He's only with you because of the feud between your families, so why can't you just leave?

"Are you going to wait until I marry Jeff, have kids, and flaunt my happy life before you finally go?"

Cecilia looked up at Yvonne's smug face.

Being loved truly gave a person confidence.

Cecilia used to have that confidence when she knew Jeff loved her. Then, all she had were tears and humiliation.

At that moment, Jeff's voice came from outside. Yvonne's eyes darted around, and she quickly grabbed the pillows from the bed, tossing them at her feet. Then, she stood up, covered her face, and began to sob quietly, like a true drama queen.

When Jeff walked in and saw what was happening, his face tensed up. He shot a stern look at Yvonne and said, "What are you doing here? Leave, now!"

"Jeff, Ms. Jones is the one who told me to come in. I hadn't even started talking when she began yelling at me, accusing me of shamelessly trying to lure you, and she threw these pillows at me," Yvonne sobbed, twisting the truth as she always did, making herself out to be the victim in just a few words.

Jeff turned to Cecilia and said, "Cecilia, how many times do I have to tell you? Yvonne is just my secretary. Stop picking on her!"

Secretary?

The kind of secretary who was always ready to sleep with him, who would stage things just to land herself in the hospital?

Or the kind of secretary he called his new sweetheart, someone he allowed to come right up to her and provoke her to her face?

Cecilia gave a wry smile, keeping her thoughts to herself. She was leaving anyway, so what was the point in arguing?

"Please leave. I'd like to rest," she said calmly.

Cecilia pulled the covers up and lay back down, as if the betrayal she had just seen did not faze her at all.

Yvonne was taken aback, not expecting Cecilia to be so composed after seeing Jeff's unfaithfulness, as if it was nothing new.

Jeff felt it too. Something was off.

Cecilia was different. She was still talking to him, but her eyes were calm, void of the love and affection that once were. That realization sent a wave of panic through Jeff.

He quickly ushered Yvonne out and then went to Cecilia, whispering, "Cecilia, I was mistaken back in the private room and made you apologize. I know I was wrong."

"Yeah," she replied simply.

Cecilia turned away, lying on her side in the hospital bed. She could not bear to look at him, especially with Yvonne's smug face popping up in her thoughts again.

Jeff watched Cecilia's cold shoulder and felt a shiver run through him. He could not shake the feeling that he was about to lose her for good. That thought made him tremble, and without really thinking, he blurted out the words he had been holding back, "Cecilia, let's get married."