Later that evening, Yvonne waited outside the small apartment building she shared with David. Her intentions were simple; she needed explanations for the way he treated her that morning.
Soon enough, he arrived in a surprisingly luxurious car. Someone had driven him over, but Yvonne couldn't see through the tinted window. The sleek vehicle, a sharp contrast to their modest lifestyle, hinted at secrets David had been keeping from her. She watched as David's sweet smile towards the person in the car turned into a scowl as he caught sight of her. The transformation was jarring, a painful reminder of the emotional distance that had grown between them. David sighed in exasperation. “Women should greet their men in sexy clothing,” he muttered under his breath, clearly irritated. Yvonne, however, preferred simplicity. She wore a simple knee-length floral-pattern pyjama set, comfortable and familiar. David mentally scoffed, comparing Yvonne to his soon-to-be wife, who went to any length to look gorgeous for him all the time. He recalled the changes having a child had done to Yvonne's once perfect demeanour. She never got over the loss and had been living her life for him since then, and now David had reached the height he craved. He no longer needed Yvonne. This fact made him see a tiny bit of rationality and decided to take things easy with her that evening. She had at least been useful all along. He had his fair share of guilt and resentment for that situation, after all. It was one of the reasons he had endured her presence all this while, but that is a story for another time. Seeing him walk past her, Yvonne was stunned by David for the second time in a day. Did he not see her? “David?” she called as she shut the door behind them. That evening, faced with Yvonne's distraught demeanour, David expressed how he had been stressed with the demands from his workplace, which caused him to flip at her that morning. “It’s been tough at work, Yvonne. The pressure is immense. I took it out on you,” he said, his tone devoid of genuine remorse. He ended his unreasonable excuse by packing up a few valuables he had in the house. “I’ll be leaving for a business trip this evening,” he announced, his eyes avoiding hers. “I will keep in touch and be back in a month,” David said and left, not even sparing a glance back. Yvonne couldn't explain her feelings about the situation and just watched him leave without even saying ‘sorry’ for his behaviour. She felt a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion swirling within her. Having been humiliated by her fiancé in front of his company building and just watched him leave for a sudden trip they hadn't discussed, Yvonne felt a surge of insecurity wash over her. The harsh words and dismissive tone he used in front of his colleagues cut deeper than she cared to admit. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of inadequacy that followed, and as she stood there in the middle of the room, she impulsively blamed herself. Maybe she had lost her touch. Maybe she wasn’t the woman who once fascinated him. Yvonne couldn’t help but ponder what had gone wrong. Their relationship had started with passion and excitement, but now it felt like she was just a fixture in his life, easily overlooked and taken for granted. She wondered if she had changed in some fundamental way if she had become less attractive or less interesting. In a moment of self-reflection, Yvonne walked to her bedroom mirror and scrutinized her reflection as she pulled at her dress from behind to make it accentuate her figure. She noticed her long, auburn hair still shone with a healthy lustre. Her skin was smooth and glowing, and her figure was as slender and fit as ever. There was no visible flaw in her appearance. But perhaps, she thought, it wasn’t just about looks. Maybe it was about her actions, her choices, her very presence. Memories of their early days flooded her mind. The late-night conversations, the shared dreams, the promises whispered in the dark. Where had all of that gone? She remembered how David used to look at her with admiration, how he hung on her every word. Now, he barely noticed her. The realization was a bitter pill to swallow. Determined to reclaim some semblance of control and possibly rekindle the old spark, Yvonne decided to indulge in some retail therapy. She would have her monthly allowance soon, and what better way to boost her confidence than by adorning herself with new, beautiful clothes? If she could remind her fiancé of the woman he fell in love with, maybe things could go back to how they used to be. As she planned her shopping trip, Yvonne resolved to focus on more than just her appearance. She wanted to rediscover the parts of herself that had been buried under the weight of her insecurities and David's indifference. Maybe it was time to pursue those hobbies she had abandoned, to reconnect with old friends, to find joy in her own company again. The next morning, Yvonne woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. She started her day with a long run in the park, letting the cool morning air clear her mind. The rhythmic pounding of her feet on the pavement was cathartic, each step a declaration of her intent to reclaim her life. She felt the tension of the previous day begin to melt away. After her run, she showered and dressed in her favourite casual outfit, a pair of well-fitted jeans and a soft, pastel sweater. She headed to her favourite café, a quaint little place with cosy seating and the best coffee in town. As she sipped her latte, she pulled out a notebook and began jotting down thoughts and ideas and plans for her future that didn't entirely revolve around David, but hopefully make him realize the woman he fell in love with and they go back to where they started. a relationship full of love and happiness.For a long, precious moment, they stayed like that—wrapped in each other’s warmth, the world and its troubles falling away as they clung together in the quiet of the garden. The soft breeze stirred the petals of nearby flowers, and the gentle rustle of leaves became the only witness to their embrace.Micheal, who had felt the cold grip of hopelessness for so long, finally found a flicker of strength. Slowly, hesitantly, he pulled back just enough to see her face. His hands rose to cup her cheeks, his thumbs brushing along her soft skin as he gazed deep into her eyes—eyes that held so much pain, so much love, so much resilience. His own eyes shimmered with raw emotion, his voice unsteady.“Can you allow me… to make amends for everything that’s happened?” he asked, his voice barely more than a breath. “I want to spend the rest of my life replacing all your hurt with happiness. I can’t lose you, baby.” His voice broke as his nose twitched with the effort to hold back his tears.Yvonne’s
The air between them seemed to hum with all the things left unsaid. Yvonne drew in a steadying breath, feeling the weight of the moment pressing against her chest.“We need to talk,” she said quietly, her voice firm but gentle.Micheal nodded almost instantly, his gaze locked on hers, as if trying to read every unspoken word in her eyes before she even said them aloud. His heart hammered in his chest, fear gnawing at him—fear that perhaps, after all they’d been through, she was about to close the door between them forever.Yvonne inhaled deeply again, then tore her gaze from his, turning toward where their children still chattered happily with her parents.She crossed over, her footsteps soft on the paved path, and crouched to their level, her face warm but serious.“Lily, Jack,” she called gently, drawing their attention from the drawings they were excitedly showing off to their grandparents. “Mommy needs to talk to Daddy for a little while, okay?”The twins paused, glancing between
Yvonne was too preoccupied by the warmth in her chest over the bonding between her parents and the children to register that Micheal had moved closer.The kids’ excited chatter filled the front yard as they showed off their drawings and photos of school friends. They had warmed up to their new grandparents so easily, as if this were a long-awaited reunion rather than their very first meeting. Laughter drifted through the air — gentle and light — carrying a sweetness that made her heart ache in the best way.It reminded Yvonne of a time when her parents had expected nothing of her, when they had simply let her be their little princess. If they truly had changed, then Yvonne knew her children were in for an abundance of care and affection.Her parents used to treat her like the center of their world when she was much younger. And then, all at once, she felt it — that familiar, quiet pull. The subtle shift in the air as he stood close. The warmth of his hands lightly supporting her lowe
Yvonne held her children’s hands tightly as they stood just inside the gate, the sun casting long golden rays across the compound. Her heart fluttered at a rhythm she couldn't control. The presence of her parents beside her felt both grounding and surreal — but nothing compared to the way her heart clenched when she looked down at her children.Her children.Their wide, cautious eyes swept the compound in slow, calculated glances. Their excitement had died down the moment they noticed they were about to meet yet another set of grandparents.Yvonne's breath hitched.Mary and her husband —her parents—had stepped outside, lured by the children’s joyful shouts moments earlier. But now the air was tense, stretched thin as the twins instinctively edged backward.Jack’s hand tightened around Lily’s, his arm subtly sliding in front of her like a shield.Micheal, still by the car, stiffened as he watched the shift. He recognized that body language all too well. His own stomach twisted into a g
Micheal adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles slightly pale from the pressure. On the outside, he looked composed — calm even — but on the inside, his chest was a mess of nerves.The low hum of the engine was drowned out by the cheerful chorus coming from the backseat.“Mommy’s going to love this one!” Lily declared, holding up a glittering necklace made from shiny beads and plastic gems.“No, mine is the coolest! Look at this drawing — it’s her, me, you, and Lily on a rocket ship!” Jack added, waving the paper in front of his sister’s nose.Lily in turn straightened the petals of the flower she had bought, and had accidentally stuffed along with the piles of things they had brought to show their mommy. The car was filled with excited chatter and giggles, wrapping Micheal in a bubble of pure noise that should’ve calmed him.It didn’t.He couldn’t stop rehearsing everything in his head.What if Yvonne was still upset? What if she regretted asking him to come? What if h
The front door slammed shut behind her, echoing through the too-silent house. Sammy dropped her purse with a thud on the polished floor, her heels clicking as she stepped into the living room, only to stop short.The house was still empty.Still.David hadn’t returned.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. The confrontation they had days ago still rang in her ears—David’s rage, his disgust, his accusation. His promise that they would “talk” when they got home that night. But they never got that far.Instead, he’d taken a duffel bag, some of his clothes, and vanished into a hotel—like she was a plague to escape from.Three days.Three days of silence.Three days of not knowing if her husband was planning to leave her, if he was speaking to anyone, if he was still hers.She walked further into the living room, tossed herself onto the couch like a marionette with cut strings, and stared blankly at the ceiling. Her chest rose and fell in erratic waves. A sharp scream tore from her l