Henry.
“Anna’s not coming down. She’s feeling quite ill and is resting in bed,” Dave, the idiot, informs me before I even set foot inside.
So she’s feeling unwell, huh? Good to know that Anna hasn’t entirely changed. She remains as stubborn as ever. She doesn’t want to speak with me, and I can’t say I blame her, but I desperately need to see her. I’d settle for a distant glance, but right now, it’s essential. I want to see her furrowed brow, her grimace upon spotting me, those dagger-shooting eyes, her pursed lips, and that scrunched nose when she yells, taking deep breaths between her shouts.
“What’s wrong with her?” I manage to spit out with clear disdain in my tone. I’m furious. Is she still this immature? Does she believe that by locking herself in her room, I’ll just magically disappear? She’s gravely mistaken if she thinks that.
“She has a severe headache,” he shrugs nonchalantly.
And this moron would rather dine with me than take care of her? My blood boils even hotter.
“Jeremy went to a friend’s house today. I only found out this morning. If I had known earlier, I would have invited you tomorrow so we all could dine together,” he mentions, offering the most insincere smile I’ve ever seen.
Anna is crafty. It already seemed strange to me that she’d claim to feel ill, leaving me alone with Jeremy.
“Please, have a seat if you’d like. Dinner’s ready; Anna spent all afternoon preparing it.”
Did Anna make it? It must be poisoned, for sure.
I sat down, and the atmosphere grew tense. Here I am, across the table from the fiance of the woman who… well, she’s my… Never mind.
“How long have you been with Anna?” I blurt out. Voicing it calmly would undoubtedly betray the bitterness I felt at the realization that someone other than myself was with her.
“Five years now,” he boasts with an insufferable grin.
“I’ll wipe that smirk off your face,” I think to myself.
“That’s a long time…” was all I could muster, using him as my only link to Anna.
“Yes. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and waiting with her has been worth every moment,” he admits, glancing down at his plate. He hadn’t intended to share that and probably hoped I wouldn’t pry.
“Waiting for what?” I ask, intrigued.
“Sorry, I forgot we’ve just met,” he laughs nervously.
God! This guy drives me nuts.
“It doesn’t matter. Tell me if you’d like,” I responded.
“Well, she and I… we’ve never been together… you know…”
“You never slept together?” I asked with a laugh, feeling somewhat triumphant at the revelation. I found joy in the notion that I remain the only man who’s been with her. If I have my way, I’ll be the first and last.
“I prefer to say, ‘we never made love’,” he said, furrowing his brow. He clearly disapproves of my choice of words.
“She made love with me, prick.”
“She wanted to wait until our honeymoon…” he continued. It’s clear he’s not thrilled about Anna’s decision.
I can’t help but feel both sympathy and amusement towards the guy. He missed out on one of the greatest pleasures a man can experience – being with her.
“But you knew she wasn’t a virgin. Why wait?”
“That damn man who left her with Jeremy… she just couldn’t give herself away so quickly again. Understand?”
That’s when my smile vanished. Reminders of Jeremy always hit hard. The boy is incredible, and I’ve missed five years of his life. One of my desires was to have a child with her, and we do. But I can’t be with either of them. Whenever I see him, I’m reminded that had I been given the chance to change my fate, I would’ve wished I never met Levingston, my best friend when I first met Anna. Maybe if I had met her at a different time, in a different place…
If I could alter destiny, regardless of the circumstances, I would always choose her. She’d always be my top pick. If I could dictate my fate… I’d choose her. It doesn’t matter how, or where, I just want to be by her side.
“Hey, are you okay? You’ve gone pale,” Dave’s voice snaps me back to reality, pulling me from my thoughts, and I strive not to show any sign of vulnerability.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I reply, and turn to the food.
“No, I’m not okay. I need to see her.”
Dave’s phone rings, breaking the silence. He reads a message, and his face contorts with concern.
“Sorry, Henry, I need to leave for a bit. You can wait here if you like.”
Yes! If he leaves, I can talk to her.
“Sure, whatever you prefer,” I say, trying to sound as indifferent as possible.
This man truly is an imbecile. Who in their right mind leaves a stranger alone in a house with their fiancee? He’s nuts. But right now, I’m grateful for his lack of judgment.
Dave nods, stands, grabs his coat, and dashes out like a bat out of hell.
Feeling determined, I rise and start looking for Anna’s room. But first, I venture into Jeremy’s room.
It’s a small room, fitting for a child of his age. There’s a single bed, a small TV in the corner, a shelf full of children’s books, a desk cluttered with drawing supplies and a lamp. Beside it, there’s a chest I assume is filled with toys, and next to that, a wardrobe. Driven by curiosity, I open it. On the door, there’s a photograph of Anna holding Jeremy. Her hair was still black in that picture.
The blonde suits her, but I miss her stunning black hair…
Jeremy couldn’t have been more than two months old in that picture, and Anna was crying. I should’ve been in that damned photo.
Quickly leaving the room, trying not to torment myself further with thoughts of what I’ve lost, I head straight to the last door, which I assume leads to Anna’s room. The door is slightly ajar, and I take a deep breath, preparing to enter.
But before I can fully push it open, she does, and rushes out. Her forehead collides with my chin, causing her to fall.