(Lydia)I could feel my heart racing like it had never before. The click of the shoes seemed louder than usual. Perhaps it was because I was lying flat on the ground but at that moment, every footfall made me want to flinch.I held my breath as two pairs of feet entered my line of sight as the lights were turned on. I could hear what they were talking about.Nathan was the one to speak first, “Thank you so much for doing this, I really can’t know where I lost my wallet, I’m sure the key was in there.”Someone from the staff replied, “That’s completely fine, sir. I’m here for anything you might need. Use this key from now on and please feel free to reach me whenever you want.”I was still in place as the staff left the room. There was a beat of silence and then Nathan cursed loudly. He reached for his suitcase and picked it up. He put it haphazardly onto the bed.I could hear him muttering, “Where was it? Where is it?”His voice was filled with agitation as he looked for something in h
(Lydia)I could not believe that this was happening. I had no idea that Thomas could do something like this to me.When I called him back, I had not expected him to tell me that Miles had an allergic reaction while he was at school, and because of that he had to be admitted to the hospital.What had been even more infuriating was that it had been almost two days since the incident and I was just now finding out about this.Miles is my son. There was nothing in the world more important than my son and my daughter to me. If something happened to them, then how could I go on like this?I was nothing without them in my life. They brought me joy, they were the ones who kept me going when everything else in my life was hopeless.I couldn’t say much to Thomas during our phone call, but as I sat on the plane, ready to go back home earlier than scheduled, I decided to give him a piece of my mind to let him know that what he had done was unacceptable.I was jittery and couldn’t eat or drink an
(Lydia)Today marked two months since I last saw Thomas, my husband. My heart raced as I remembered the harsh words he’d flung at me the last time he stormed out.“I wish I never met you.”Those searing words had been endlessly echoing in my mind since that dreadful day.The shrill ring of the phone jolted me from my painful reverie. I glanced at the caller ID and my breath caught. It was Thomas. With trembling fingers, I answered. “H-hello?”“Lydia.” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “I'm coming home today.”Home. Was this house still home if he was not here? Despite the anger and hurt brewing inside me, part of me dared to feel a glimmer of hope.“You’re...coming back?”“For now,” he replied curtly. “We need to sort some things out regarding the divorce.”My heart sank at the d-word. Divorce. The gaping wound in my heart reopened, fresh pain seeping through. “But Thomas, I—”“I'll see you later today.” His tone was flat and withdrawn, the way it had been ever since I lost him t
(Lydia)Tears spilled down my cheeks unbidden as I watched him walk away, arm-in-arm with the woman who stole him from me.My heart was broken. I was left to pick up the shattered pieces of my once blissful life. My husband was a soulless stranger, the other half of my heart irretrievably lost. I could only pray that one day, the gaping wound he left will begin to heal over.Until then, I would go through the motions, forcing myself to move forward into a harsh new reality.A cold, unrelenting world where the warmth of Thomas's embrace was but a distant, rapidly fading memory.***“Albert, no!” my mother had screamed as my father hurled a fist into her eye. She had been screaming and crying. And is that the house that I had grown up in. My little sister, Ruby, would hide behind me. I would watch from the top of the stairs as a child. When I grew a little bit older, I began to fight. At first, Mama was grateful for the help. But, over time, I began to feel her resentment. It pierced
(Lydia)When I stepped back into the bedroom, I jerked. Sarah was standing there. She eyed me closely and inquisitively.“Are you pregnant?” she asked.My face went pale. “No … no, not at all,” I bumbled. I didn’t want even Thomas to know, let alone this ungrateful snake.Sarah’s eyes hardened into steel.“I’m going to murder both you and that stupid sister of yours if you are!” she frothed.I clenched my fist at the fact that she’d brought Ruby into this, but then caught an inkling of fear on her face. She was trembling.Seeing her face turn white made me feel a little bit better.I was about to talk back to her but realized that I now had a baby to think of. As a mother, I could not be petty. A mother … The thought inspired a clandestine delight inside me.“Why are you back?” I asked her instead. I eyed her hairstyle, a braided ponytail – it was exactly how I used to do it.This way, I had said to her, twisting a lock of her yellow hair into the intricate plait that I had made.“
(Lydia)It had been difficult for me to afford a life in Denver so I had packed my bags and moved to Welby. Ruby marched beside me in the hospital corridor. We had spent the last few weeks discussing how we would raise the children. Ruby wanted to chip in but, thankfully, I could put my alimony to good use.I had been saving it all this time. I would spend it lavishly on my children.Children, yes. The ultrasound from three months ago had told us that I was having twins: a little girl and a little boy.“I’m going to spoil them,” Ruby had shrugged as she knitted their rompers and mittens.“For the baby girl, I’ve made them all in pink and lilac,” she told me, “And for the baby boy, everything is blue and yellow.”I had looked on adoringly at her.“You’re so warm and full of love,” I whispered.Her presence inspired so much gratitude: my sister had been a steady pillar throughout my pregnancy as she accompanied me to routine check-ups, fed me bread and bone broth, and signed me up for
(Lydia)When will I ever be able to erase him from my memory and never get reminded of him again? I had spent so long removing him from my mind. And here I was, moving back to his city.“Denver’s a big city!” Ruby protested when I repeated my concerns. “You would never run into him there. And, besides, it’s not as though you’re going to live there.”“Yeah, it’s only going to be for a couple of days,” chimed in Adam. He and Ruby had perhaps planned this intervention after I had first told Ruby about the offer.“Honey, this is a great opportunity for you,” continued Ruby. She clasped my hands into hers, her eyes pleading for me to acquiesce.“It’s literally your life’s dream,” agreed Adam, “I would never pass up a big shot like this.”He stared at me intently from across the table.“It’s just that …” I gasped in exasperation, “I’ve spent so long trying to forget him like he forgot me. If I catch even a glimpse of him, I’ll come crumbling down.”“Pfft!” Adam shook his head. “When has th
(Thomas)The theater lights dimmed and the stage lights went up. I squirmed in my seat. The palms of my hands were getting sweaty and I nervously rubbed them together. My stomach turned. I couldn’t believe that I was about to see her again.***Everything had been going well. In the beginning, Sarah had quarreled with me. She had been upset about the prolonged engagement and I had sometimes suspected jitters. It had seemed as though she felt as though the wedding would not take place at all.“Sarah,” I had once told her softly as we had dinner together. Her eyes had been shooting daggers at me all evening. She had thought I was putting off the wedding on purpose.“I’m trying to expand the business to New Mexico. I am completely swamped with work,” I had explained, showing her the palms of my hands “It doesn’t seem, to me, like the best time for a wedding.”She had sniffled and turned her eyes away. She would not say a single word. An emerald earring dangled from her lobe and sparkled