Her Wedding: Ch. 01

The main door slides open after I enter the password. Without turning on the lights, I walk into my open-concept house and head for the bed.

A wedding invitation just came in.

I slump into the exquisite Victorian armchair next to my bed. The entire day’s worth of fatigue weighs me down, overcoming my body. I sit on the sturdy piece of mahogany, contemplating about the same question I ask myself everyday when I am where I am now.

‘Which will break first. This chair, holding me up after each tiring day of work, or my soul, which lifted my body against ten years of emotional baggage weighing me down?’

Maybe given enough time, the answer will be made obvious…

“Another one? Who is it now?”

I expend what’s left of my energy to stand up and walk towards my work desk positioned opposite my bed. I pick up the nicely decorated envelope imprinted with golden cursive font.

See for yourself.

I tiredly slit open the envelope, my eyes swollen from the long hours of reading thick law books. I pull out the invitation card, squinting hard to decipher words which seem pretty much illegible to me. I manage to pick out four words from the overly polite invitation. Emotions and memories flood my senses as I stare at her name blankly.

“Ahh… I guess it’s time…”

As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I lock eyes with him. He stares back into mine.

I smile mournfully into his despondent eyes, encouraging him.

“I guess we lose.”

No… You lose.

I look deep into his eyes for the longest period of time, trying to comprehend his reply. Then I notice his bloodshot eyes; his blank stare. Those eyes have always looked disoriented, lacking focus. That pair of eyes staring at me now has always had a crimson glint. I don’t even think I remember how it happened.

I break eye contact and turn my head to the polished grand piano.

“Ah… I guess you are right. I lose…”

Ever since this piano arrived, I have been playing music only for the four walls to hear. I gaze at it standing solitary on its four refined, wooden legs. Tonight, there is no music. The deafening silence jolt me to realisation. It is not the sleepless nights or endless fatigue at work. The lonely nights I struggle with everyday are the cause of his nightmares, his insomnia. And I have been waiting for this moment. It is the moment where nothing matters and will never matter again. My vision blurs and one droplet streams down my cheek. I wait for him to reply but all that greets me is silence.

“Hey… It’s raining. I guess I have to draw the curtains…”