The Broken Vow: The Cheating Husband

I shook my head once again, determined to push away the lingering memories. Glancing at my watch, I realized it was time for my break.

"It's my break now, so I'll be heading out for lunch. See you in an hour," I informed Giselle as I removed my apron, grabbed my bag and keys, and prepared to leave. Driving towards a diner, I called Dorothy to let her know of our lunch plans. Upon arriving, I took a seat at a booth and patiently waited for Dorothy while perusing the menu.

This diner held a special place in our hearts, and we often frequented it during our breaks or days off. As I scanned the menu, my stomach growled in anticipation. Soon enough, Dorothy appeared and settled across from me.

"Hey, how was work?" she asked, opening her menu.

I shrugged, replying, "It was alright. I had a meeting with a woman who was all business and lacked any sense of fun. She's planning a wedding, and the flower arrangements she requested will require significant effort. Giselle and I will do our best to procure and arrange the flowers. But that woman seemed so stern, it's hard to imagine someone wanting to marry her." Dorothy chuckled at my description.

"Was she really that severe?" she inquired.

I nodded, stating, "Not a single smile from her."

Dorothy burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Damn, I feel sorry for the poor guy who's going to marry her." We shared a laugh, both sympathizing with the groom-to-be. We quickly placed our orders and engaged in conversation about our day, discussing our other friends and making plans for our shared day off.

Since it was a Friday, we had a blast in mind—heading to the mall, enjoying a meal together, and possibly catching a movie. After finishing our meal, I took care of the bill, and we bid our farewells. I made my way back to work, finding Giselle attending to a customer upon my return.

"How was your lunch?" she inquired. I shrugged, replying, "It was fine." Giselle nodded, and I resumed my duties, eagerly anticipating the end of my shift.

Upon arriving home, I noticed Dorothy's absence. She was probably out and about, caught up in some mysterious adventure. I exhaled deeply, making my way to the kitchen in search of comfort in the form of ice cream.

The benefits of an empty house included the lack of parental criticism about my diet and my choice of dining room - namely, the living room. Retrieving a small tub of cookie dough ice cream, I migrated to the couch, flicking on the TV and settling down with my frozen treat.

As I indulged in the sweet delicacy, my attention was devoted to my favorite show, The Big Bang Theory. The show always triggered a smile; its witty humor provided a pleasant distraction from reality.

My mind wandered back to the times when I lived with Hayden. The Big Bang Theory was often the backdrop to our evenings, despite his feigned annoyance. Hayden often complained that the show distracted me from his company.

To add salt to the wound, I would teasingly insist that Sheldon was more appealing than he was. Despite his protests, there were times when he would join me, our laughter filling the room as we shared in the amusement of the series. He was never forthright about enjoying it, though; any inquiries were met with grunts and a swift change of subject. His sometimes girlish demeanor brought a certain charm to these shared moments.

My mind began to drift towards melancholy. I pondered if Hayden ever thought about me the way I did about him. Was I ever a significant part of his life? Did he truly love me, want me? I longed to know if he was content now, without me. I questioned if his life was more joyful without my presence, or if he ever felt a pang of longing for me, even if only fleeting. My heart missed him with a constant, aching throb.

Shaking off the encroaching sorrow, I reminded myself not to weep over him today. My indulgence in ice cream morphed from a simple hunger to a mechanism for coping with my melancholy.

My evening was consumed by the antics of The Big Bang Theory and dreams of waking up once again in Hayden's embrace. I glanced down to find the ice cream tub emptied, a whimper of desire escaping my lips. I craved more - more of the sugary comfort that momentarily eased my distress.

Discarding the empty ice cream container, I wondered what to eat next. I was in no mood to cook, and a sweet craving persisted. A brief search around the kitchen rewarded me with some muffins. My taste buds rejoiced as I bit into the sweet pastry. Indeed, I was eating my feelings, but the taste provided a brief respite from the pain.

Having consumed the muffins, I made my way to bed. This time, there were no tears, and I refrained from indulging in thoughts of the man who had shattered my heart. Instead, my thoughts were focused on the forthcoming day as I drifted off to sleep.