Anna.
The first thing my eyes took in was the ceiling of my room.
It was all just a dream. Today is the wedding day. I sat up and groggily made my way to the bathroom. I turned on the faucet and splashed water on my face. As I looked at my hands, the water seemed to run in a myriad of colors.
Looking into the mirror, I was startled to find myself still in the wedding dress, with smudged makeup. What?!
I washed my face, slipped into a floral dress that Dave had gifted me two nights ago-a dress I absolutely detest but felt obligated to wear at some point-and headed to the living room. With each step, the hallway felt interminably long.
Our house isn’t that large. Dave had wanted to buy a grand two-story abode, whereas I preferred something smaller and cozier. He hadn’t been thrilled with our purchase, but I was ecstatic.
It boasts two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a combined living room and kitchen. There’s a small room in the back that Dave uses for his things. He’s set up a study there to write peacefully, or “in peace,” as he puts it. He’s already published a book, which, incidentally, was quite successful.
Titled “You Know Nothing About Me,” I personally found it chauvinistic and self-centered. The male protagonist in the book believed himself to be a godlike entity, and everyone was expected to adhere to his whims. The female lead was equally naive, worshipping the ground he walked on.
Regardless, money was never an issue. Dave’s family is quite affluent. His father, the owner of several commercial enterprises, never hesitated to share a portion of his earnings with his son.
From the living room, I could hear Dave’s voice, along with another I couldn’t quite distinguish. The latter was soft-spoken, uttering hardly two words.
Once I had a clear view of the room, I froze in my tracks.
The sight before me left me petrified. I felt on the brink of another fainting spell. If God does exist, I must not be in His good graces.
Dave was laughing heartily with the other man. But in reality, Dave was the only one laughing. Henry, on the other hand, seemed to be appraising Dave, leaning casually against the back of the couch.
With Dave’s back to me and Henry facing my direction, I could see the exact moment Henry realized I was there. The way his gaze swept over me made me feel vulnerable and exposed.
My physique changed considerably after my pregnancy. My hips widened, my behind grew, and don’t get me started on those cursed stretch marks on my stomach.
As my eyes met Henry’s for the briefest of moments, I felt a wave of emotion threaten to overcome me. It was a profound sense of nostalgia. That had to be it.
He’s unchanged from years ago, save for the shadow of a beard and much longer hair. His frame is larger, so much so.
Dave followed Henry’s gaze and, upon seeing me, smiled. I couldn’t muster a smile in return.
“Love, you’re awake. What happened to you?” Dave caressed my cheek, and I noticed Henry shift uncomfortably in his seat, squeezing his hands on his lap. I avoided looking directly at his face, fearing the familiar anger or whatever emotion surfaced when he saw me with another man.
“Nothing really happened… I just…” I said, lacking the enthusiasm to elaborate. Inside, I wanted to scream to the heavens that THIS MAN SHOULDN’T BE HERE! TO THROW HIM OUT! TO GET LOST!
“You fainted from the nerves, that’s what Alison told me,” Dave commented, smirking slightly as he took my hand. An uneasy silence blanketed the small room, and I felt as though everything was closing in on me.
“Alison told you that, huh?” My gaze settled on Henry, and it became evident he had seen Alison earlier in the day. She could’ve warned me, could’ve told me to call security so neither my son nor I would lay eyes on him. Yet, she stayed silent.
“Is that what happened?” Dave inquired, searching my eyes. I forced a smile to allay his concerns.
“Yes,” I replied, touching his cheek gently.
But aside from the “nerves”-WHICH I DIDN’T HAVE-the real shocker was the man whose memories had haunted me for years was now seated on my damn couch.
I couldn’t disclose this to Dave. He was unaware of my past connection with Henry. He didn’t know I had been involved with my former boss, and I couldn’t let him find out.
“And my mother?” I whispered, ensuring only Dave would hear, but I knew Henry must’ve caught it.
If she had seen him here, she would’ve thrown him out. WHERE IS SHE?
“She left with her fiance. She mentioned you should call her when you wake up.”
I should’ve expected no less. Rather than being there for me, she’d taken off with her husband-to-be on some ludicrous cruise.
“What are we going to do about the wedding?” I asked immediately. Dave grimaced, while Henry shot me a disapproving look.
Who does he think he is, staring at me like that?
“We’ll reschedule, dear. But promise me you won’t have another bout of nerves,” Dave laughed, “Our Paris honeymoon is obviously postponed. So, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the Eiffel Tower, beautiful.”
I nodded, though the last thing on my mind right now was THAT DAMN EIFFEL TOWER!