A New Day

Val tossed and turned, finding the other side of the bed empty again. A heavy sigh escaped her as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Finally getting her bearings, she rose to her feet and opened the bedroom curtains to welcome the new day. Rays of sunlight poured in, kissing her skin and setting her red hair ablaze. Val was undeniably gorgeous, with a figure that made her the fantasy of both husbands and wives. But none of that mattered when the only man whose attention she craved treated her more like a roommate than a wife.

It hadn't always been like this. When they first started courting, Thomas was the epitome of a gentleman. He was caring, loving, and possessed a quiet confidence that entranced Val and translated well into his business dealings. However, their relationship began to sour when Val's father, a powerful politician in the Union, granted Thomas a permit to open a factory in the unsettled lands of the West.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp."

The gentle chirping of a bird derailed her train of thought. Val turned to the cage next to her nightstand and greeted a tiny bird with a wing carefully bound in bandages. She brought the cage to the window and opened it.

"Alright, little birdie," Val whispered with a hint of optimism, "today's the day."

The bird chirped, seemingly understanding the sentiment. It edged closer to the open door of its cage, its eyes full of hope as it looked out at the vast openness of the plains just outside the window. For a brief moment, it appeared ready to take the leap, to test its bandaged wing. A rare smile crept onto Val's face in anticipation. But then, fear set in, and the bird retreated back into the safety of its cage.

Val's face fell, the weight of disappointment evident in her eyes as she slowly shut the cage door. She had hoped today would be different. Maybe tomorrow.

Turning to get dressed for the day, she discovered a new dress waiting by her closet. She stared at the dress with indifference. When the intimacy had left their relationship, Thomas had tried to fill the void with gifts, like this dress and others she would occasionally wake up to. Knowing it would only invite a string of questions she didn't have the heart to answer truthfully, she did what she always did: swallowed her loneliness, put on the dress, and went to get breakfast ready.