3#03

3

I grabbed my phone and left the office. The motion-sensor lights in the stairwell blinked on, and I heard faint sounds.

As I crept closer, I caught sight of Josh and Tatiana wrapped in each other's arms.

"You said we'd have flowers and a fancy hotel suite, but instead we're in this eerie building..." she complained.

Josh kissed her softly, "Those places are so dull, this is thrilling! The whole building has motion-sensor lights to create the right atmosphere. Feel free to be as loud as you want..."

Tatiana inquired, "Aren't you worried your old wife might hear?"

Josh nipped Tatiana sharply. "Don't speak about her that way. I told you I'd give you everything, but never show yourself to her!"

"Ugh, I've had enough. I'm going... oh..." Her words were drowned out by passionate noises.

The sounds inside grew more intense. I stood unsteadily in the dark hallway. I should have felt crushed, but I couldn't even muster the energy to feel sad.

I don't recall how I made it home. My phone kept buzzing, Josh's name flashing on the screen, filling me with an odd sense of revulsion.

Josh burst in and embraced me, his voice shaking with worry, "You terrified me, Natalie! I couldn't find you anywhere and you wouldn't pick up. I thought something terrible had happened! I even thought, if anything happened to you, I couldn't go on living!"

Yet this man, who claimed he couldn't live without me, had been passionately involved with another woman just earlier.

"Get off me, you stink!" I snapped at him. The strong jasmine scent on him was mixed with a faint, sickly sweet smell.

His face drained of color and he looked at me guiltily, "Natalie, why did you come home alone?"

Drained, I turned away, no longer wanting to look at him.

The next day, when I woke up, breakfast was already laid out. Crispy toast, warm milk, heart-shaped eggs and fruit arranged in floral patterns, after a decade, he had perfected all my preferences.

Josh pulled out a chair for me. "It's been a while since we visited grandma. After we eat, I'll go with you to see her."

My hand froze mid-air. Grandma had adored her grandson-in-law when she was alive. Now that she'd been gone for a few days, it was appropriate for him to pay his respects.

It was also time for me to bid farewell to grandma, as I'd be leaving in three days.

As we drove down Main Street, we passed a couple celebrating their wedding.

Seeing their joyful embrace reminded me of my wedding to Josh ten years ago.

Josh had lifted my veil and kissed me tenderly, treating me with such gentleness and affection. He once said, "Natalie, I will love you forever and never change my feelings for you."

Having lost my parents young, I'd always felt insecure. On our wedding night, I rested against Josh's chest.

I said, "If one day you stop loving me, please tell me. Though I hope our love lasts forever, if that day comes, I'd still want us to part amicably. But if you betray me in secret, Josh, I will never forgive you!"

Back then, Josh had vowed to me, "If I ever betray my wife, Natalie Ambrossia, may I spend the rest of my days searching but never finding, dying alone!"

Those grand promises had crumbled to nothing after just ten years. Remembering those beautiful moments, I couldn't stop my eyes from welling up.

"Natalie, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?" Josh was always perceptive, noticing even the smallest changes in me.

"It's nothing, just the wind," I answered.

Josh pressed a button and the car window slowly closed. In the angled sunlight, two faint handprints became visible on the glass.