The man looked deep into her eyes. Dark and piercing. It was like staring into sweet chocolate syrup being swirled around. It had finally come to this. He was marrying her. She was all his.
How easy it was for her to say “I do” when asked the question, as if it hardly crossed her mind just how big a decision she had made with those two simple English words. He, on the other hand, wanted to savor the moment. He finally had his bride.
“I do.” He could’ve sworn the Hallelujah chorus played in the background for a split second when he uttered the words. This was just too incredible a moment. He could hardly contain his delight when they were given the go-signal to kiss as husband and wife.
“I love you,” he said to her, stroking her cheek gently with his finger.
“I love you too,” she said.
***
For the next three years, the man was happy. He provided his wife with everything she needed and even everything that she wanted. She had all the appliances she would ever need for a comfortable home. She had her garden in which she could plant her flowers. She had a library in which she could immerse herself in the different worlds that only books could offer. She had everything because her husband had given her everything.
They had two children—a son and a daughter. The man promised himself that he would not only be the best husband he could be, but also the best father. He was having the time of his life taking care of his family. He felt that things would just keep getting better and better.
***
She wasn’t home. She hadn’t come home for a week.
The last time he heard from her, she hadn’t said much. She simply said, “I need to be alone for a while. I’ll be home soon.”
The week turned into a month. During the first week of the next month, he heard from a reliable source that she had been seeing someone else for the past two weeks.
***
“She didn’t love you,” the friend said. “You knew from the start that she didn’t understand what true love meant. I still find it incredible that you married her. You’re smarter than that.”
He said nothing. He was too hurt to say anything. After all he’d done for her. After all he gave her. After all the love he publicly and honestly declared for her. She had left him. She had been unfaithful.
“She must have been looking for something you couldn’t provide for her, man.” The friend shrugged before closing the door behind him.
A tear trickled down the man’s face as he softly said, “She’s looking for something she thought I can’t provide.”
***
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“I know where she is.”
“Where?”
“Some rich guy’s penthouse.”
“Same guy as before?”
“Are you kidding? I’d say this is her sixth, not counting you. I can’t believe you’re still trying to find out where she is when it’s so obvious she doesn’t care about you. Let’s just face it. You married a who—”
He put the receiver down before he heard the “r” sound.
***
She wasn’t there for their son’s first birthday.
The man tried to put on a smile. He couldn’t.
***
He dialed a number on the phone. He waited.
“Hello?” It was the friend.
“I need someone to talk to.”
“Sure, man. Sure.”
“It’s so hard.” His voice cracked.
“I know, man. I know. Look, don’t you think you should just face the fact that she’s not coming back? Time to move on, bro. Take the kids and live your lives without her. It’s better that way—for you and for the little ones.”
That was logical. He knew that that was probably the least complicated solution to everything. Still, it wasn’t about complications. It was about his commitment.
***
It had been one year and six months since he last saw her. Since they last spoke.
He couldn’t help it.
He still missed her.
***
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“She’s in jail.”
“What?”
“She’s turned into a godforsaken tramp. Been trying to survive in the streets…illegally.”
“I’m going to see her.”
A long pause. Followed by, “Why?”
“Because I love her.”
***
“How could I have been so stupid?” she continually asked herself. Everything she ever needed and wanted were with her the whole time. Yet, she was willing to give that all away. For what? A life that eventually destroyed her? She rested her head against the wall. Tears flowed down her eyes for a long time. She deserved to be here. She deserved to die for deserting her children and abandoning her husband.
The guard unlocks the cell door. “Someone’s bailing you out.”
She felt her heart stop for a split second. She saw him. Her husband! Why him? She couldn’t bear to see him. She felt like his gaze on her was eating her alive. She turned toward the wall and started sobbing harder than ever.
The man walked slowly to her and cupped her chin with his hand.
“Why? Why are you here?” she stammered through heavy breaths.
The man’s voice was warm and soothing as he whispered, “I’m here to take you back.”
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