“Long time no see,” Marine said with a smile, presenting her hand for a handshake.
“What are you doing here?” I replied, not liking her presence around me.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here for Marlene. I just came to say one last goodbye before I leave.”
I scanned her face, not wanting to trust any of her words. “I don’t trust you,”
Marine smiled, sitting in the chair beside the bed. “Then don’t,” she sighed. “Look, I’m not as bad as you take me. I was young when Marline was born. You and I both were not ready to be parents.”
I nodded my head. “Come to the point.”
Marine smirked at my words. “Impatient like always. Anyway, I know Marlene is better with you than she can be with me, and here,” Marine opened her purse. “Remember this,”
I stared at the ring in Marine’s hand that I had given her. I didn’t even know that she still had it.
“Take it. I know how important it is for you.”
She is right; this ring was my grandmother’s wedding ring she gave me on her deathbed, asking me to give it to the woman that I love.
“Give it to someone you love,” Marine smiled.
Yes, but I know she will never accept it.
“I guess I should leave then.”
Brandon
“You came just to give me this ring,” I asked.
She nodded her head.
“You’ve changed,” I said, my eyes staring at Marine. She doesn’t seem to be the same person I have known in the past.
“Life taught me the hard way, but I’m happy with the one I love,” Marine said with a smile as the door opened and came in Jane with a bouquet in hand, looking all shocked and sad at the same time.
***********
Jane
I don’t know why, but I’m nervous today. My heart’s beating very fast with my palms sweating. Why is this just Brandon? I have met him a million times, but I have never felt anything like the way I’m feeling now. Standing in front of Brandon’s hospital room, I couldn’t even make myself open the door.
Calm down, I took some deep breaths, controlling my emotions as I opened Brandon’s room. Inside, I saw Brandon lying on the bed talking to a woman. She is beautiful, but who is she? I don’t think that I have seen her before. Is she one of Brandon’s friends or colleagues and if she is, then why haven’t I seen or met her before? It’s odd. Normally, I know all of Brandon’s friends, but not once have I seen her before. And the odder thing is that she was holding Brandon’s hand. None of them felt my presence in the room. Are they so engaged in their conversation or are they ignoring me? “I don’t know that you have a friend visiting you,” I don’t know why, but my voice sounded aggressive, and I was jealous.
Brandon looked up, hearing my voice. “I didn’t even notice you were there.”
“Well… You seemed so engaged talking to your friend,” I said, sarcastically, excavating the word friend. The woman stood up from where she was sitting, presenting her hand to me. “Nice to meet you. You might be one of Brandon’s friends. I guess,”
“Wife, anyway, nice to meet you.” She raised her eyebrows at my words and nodded. “Marine,” Wait what? I turned my eyes to look at Brandon and he nodded his head in confirmation. What a surprise! I didn’t have words to say after the introduction, so I remained silent… “I should leave, I guess,” Marine said, side-hugging Brandon. “Nice meeting you ah…,”
“Jane,” I finished as she hugged me too before leaving the room. I don’t know what is going through my mind, but I’m kind of jealous, I guess, and this is the kind of emotion I never felt, not with Brandon. What is happening to my mind or me? I don’t know and don’t even care, or do I… Ah, let’s just forget about it for now.
“Jane,” Brandon called, diverting my thoughts. I know what he will say. That is why I changed the subject. “Coming in, I grabbed your discharge papers. Let’s just pack up and leave. Everyone is waiting for you at home.”
All this time, I tried to hide my face from Brandon. I know that if he sees me, he’ll know that I’m disturbed. Brandon grabbed me, my hand turning my face towards him. “Jane,”
I plastered a fake smile on my face, handing his clothes to him. “Here are your clothes. Go change before we leave.”
“Jane, talk to me. I don’t like it when you are silent.”