THE OTHER SIDE OF FOREVER
(Chapter 2)
As the evening drew to a close, they are already back from work and had eaten. Wills retreated to his room, his heart heavy with worry. He knelt beside his bed, his hands clasped together in prayer. “Dear God, please help my parents. They’re always fighting, and it’s tearing me apart. I don’t know what’s wrong, but please fix it. They’re all I have.”
Meanwhile, in their bedroom, Lucy confronted Kelvin, her voice low and urgent. “We need to talk, Kelvin. What’s going on with you? Why did you act like that this morning?”
Kelvin remained silent, his eyes fixed on some point beyond her shoulder.
Lucy’s frustration grew. “Kelvin, our son is suffering because of us. Can’t you see that?”
Kelvin’s expression didn’t change, but Lucy sensed a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
“Is it really just about s*x?” Lucy asked, her voice cracking. “Is that all I am to you? Because if it is, then maybe we shouldn’t be together.”
Kelvin’s silence was oppressive, and Lucy felt her anger boil over.
“You can’t just shut me out like this, Kelvin. I’m your wife. I deserve better.” How can you be acting like this simply because of s*x.
Kelvin’s words cut through the tension like a knife. “Simply you said. You call it simply right. Hope you’ll be happy when I finally start sleeping outside.”
Lucy’s eyes widened in shock. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me? Are you saying you’ll leave me to meet another woman?”
Kelvin’s face was impassive, but Lucy saw a glimmer of regret in his eyes.
“You can’t do that, Kelvin. You can’t try that. What about our vows? What about our love?”
Kelvin’s silence was deafening, and Lucy felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.
“Oh, I see,” she whispered, turning her back on him. “You’ve been sleeping outside, haven’t you? You’ve been with someone else.”
Kelvin’s quiet was a tacit admission, and Lucy felt her world crumble around her.
*******************
As they lay in bed, a call pierced the tense silence. Kelvin hesitated before answering, his voice curt. “Hello?”
Lucy’s eyes narrowed, her ears straining to listen.
“Please, can we talk tomorrow? I can’t talk now,” Kelvin said, his tone dismissive.
Lucy’s curiosity was piqued. “Who was that?” she demanded, her voice firm.
Kelvin shrugged, his eyes avoiding hers. “Just a colleague from work.”
Lucy’s skepticism was evident. “At this hour? I don’t believe you. Call her back, I want to confirm.”
Kelvin’s refusal was immediate. “I’m not calling her back. I just told her I couldn’t talk now.”
Lucy’s anger flared. “You’re lying to me, Kelvin. You’re hiding something. Call her back, or I’ll think the worst.”
Kelvin’s expression turned stubborn. “How do you expect me to call back someone I just told I couldn’t talk? What are you going to tell her, huh? That you’re checking up on me?”
Lucy’s hands clenched into fists. “You’re the one who started this, Kelvin. You’re the one who’s been pushing me away.”
Kelvin’s voice rose. “I’m not the one who’s always accusing and questioning. You’re the one who’s always assuming the worst.”
Lucy’s eyes flashed. “I have every right to assume the worst when you’re acting like this. Call her back, Kelvin.”
But Kelvin refused, his jaw set in defiance.
Lucy’s nod was curt. “Fine. You should know you’re the one who started this. You’re the one who’s been lying and hiding things.”
As she turned away, Kelvin’s voice followed her. “What’s that supposed to mean, Lucy?”
But Lucy ignored him, her silence a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her.
To be continued…
