Have some thoughts
It was our third anniversary. Jason, my husband,
was keeping a secret from everyone, a young,
vibrant girl tucked away somewhere. Everyone
always told me I was his “forever girl,” his
weakness. But then he’d get drunk and laugh,
saying, “Marrying Amelia? Turns out, she’s
just… okay.” The man who swore at seventeen
he’d love me forever was now cuddling another
girl, whispering, “She’s so boring, of course,
you’re the one I really love, babe.”
The day I left was ordinary. No one suspected a
thing. Maria, our housekeeper, smiled and
asked if I was going shopping or for coffee. I
smiled back and nodded, “Don’t bother with
dinner tonight.” Jason wouldn’t know it, but
“just okay” Amelia was stubborn. Forgiveness
wasn’t in her vocabulary.
I clutched my coat, a bag of liver supplements
in my hand. The hallway stretched out,
paintings casting splashes of color in the
lamplight. At the end of the hall, laughter spilled
from a room. Jason rented this entire floor,
permanently. No one was allowed up here,
which explained why the door was ajar. My heel
caught on the thick carpet. As I bent down, my
pearl necklace snapped. Pearls scattered
across the floor. A sharp pang hit my chest. I
reached for them, then froze. I heard Jason’s
voice.
“Nah, I’m not like you guys, always chasing the
next thing.” His voice, thick with alcohol, oozed
pride. “My first love, my dream girl, the love of
my life, is my wife, and only my wife.” My lips
curved into a smile. The cool pearls in my hand
felt soothing. My heart felt… lighter.
Then he sighed. “Too bad she’s kind of…meh.”
My hand clenched, pearls digging into my palm.
My smile faltered.
“What about me, Jason?” A sweet, young voice, laced with hurt and resentment. “You say your
wife is the love of your life. Then what am I?”
“You said you loved me last night!”
The other men erupted in laughter. “Silly girl, you believe what a man says in bed?” “Besides,
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he’s supposed to love his wife.” “You’re the
side chick, what do you expect?”
“Jason! Tell them!” The girl’s voice cracked
with tears. She sounded genuinely heartbroken.
“Alright, cut it out, guys.” Jason’s voice
deepened. He sounded annoyed. “Side chick?
She’s my girlfriend. Show some respect.”
“No way, man. You serious?”
Jason hummed in affirmation. “She’s been with
me since she was eighteen. I have to take
responsibility.”
“Dude, you’re a predator. Barely legal and you
swoop in.”
“Aren’t you worried Amelia will find out?”
Jason chuckled. “She depends on me. What’s
she gonna do?” “But keep your mouths shut. I
love my wife. I don’t want to hurt her.”
“You love your wife? Then what am I?” The
girl’s voice was pleading.
Jason pulled her close. “Don’t cry over
something so small.”
She sobbed, clinging to him. “Jason, tell me you
love me… Even if it’s a lie, I just want to hear
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“There, there, babe. She’s so boring, of course. you’re the one I really love.”
I stood in the shadows, a laugh escaping my
lips. The man who swore he’d love me forever was now comforting another girl. But I didn’t even want to confront him. Once a cheater, always a cheater.
I turned and walked back down the long
hallway. Seventeen–year–old Jason carving my name into his desk. Jason loves Amelia, forever.
His forever lasted a mere ten years.
That evening, Jason came home to find me eating breakfast. He rushed in with flowers and gifts, his face full of apology. “I’m so sorry. honey. The meeting went really late last night. I couldn’t make it back.” He promised he’d never spend a night away, no matter how busy he was. But lately, he’d been coming home later and later. This time, he hadn’t come home at
all.
I put down my fork and looked at him. He’d
changed his clothes. He smelled clean and
fresh. He’d covered his tracks well. He set the
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flowers down, leaning in for a kiss. “Honey, I
swear, this was the first time, and it’ll be the
last.”
I stopped him. “Did you stay at the office last
night?”
Without hesitation, he said. “Yes. See? These
are the clothes you packed for me.” He took my
shoulders, his eyes searching mine. “Honey, are
you mad?” “I’ll spend the whole day with you. I
won’t go to the office, okay?”
I stared back, at my reflection in his eyes. His
gaze was steady, unwavering. No guilt. And
somehow, I managed to hide my own pain.
“No,” I said, pulling away. “Let’s eat.”
He’d barely sat down when his phone rang. He
frowned and declined the call. It rang again. He
hesitated, then declined it again. Then a text
came through. Jason’s face tightened.
“Amelia, something carne up at work…”
“Go,” I said.
“No, I promised you…” he started, but his eyes
betrayed him.
“It’s fine. Work is more important. Go.” I looked
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at him, the ache in my chest numb.
He didn’t need much convincing. “I’ll try to be
back early.”
I hummed, watching him rush out to his car.
Only then did I realize tears were streaming
down my face. I called my best friend, Sarah.
“Sarah, can you book me a check–up at your
hospital today?”
The results brought a wave of relief. I was
clean. I wasn’t pregnant. My health had been
fragile when we married, so we hadn’t planned
on children. Still, I’d needed to be sure. “Doctor,
how’s my health overall?” The doctor’s
reassurance eased the knot in my stomach.
Leaving the doctor’s office, I heard Jason’s
name. I stopped. “Jason, if I am pregnant, can I
keep it?” I watched them from the corner.
Jason, cigarette dangling between his fingers,
looked impatient. The girl, face bare of makeup,
was crying, pleading with him.
He scoffed. “My wife hasn’t had kids yet. You
think you’re next in line?”
“But it’s my first baby. I can’t…”
“I’ll be good, I promise! I won’t be any trouble.”
“And your wife will never know about me or the
baby.”
He patted her cheek. “Don’t be naive,
sweetheart. You’re not keeping this baby.” “Be
a good girl, get rid of it, and I’ll buy you a
condo.” “But if you don’t… Chloe, let me be
clear. Your college is full of pretty, obedient
girls. I can replace you in a heartbeat. I don’t
need you.”
Terror washed over her face. “I’ll be good,
Jason. Please don’t leave me.”
“Good. Go get checked.”
She sniffled. “I will. But…Jason, you said your
wife can’t have kids… If I am pregnant,
maybe…maybe it could be like I’m having it for
her. She could raise it. I won’t fight her. I won’t
say anything. Okay?”
He paused. “Get checked first. We’ll talk after.”
She went into the examination room. Jason
finished his cigarette and turned around. I
pretended I’d just arrived. He seemed startled,
then quickly switched to a concerned
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expression. “Amelia! What are you doing here?” “Are you sick? Are you hurt?”
He grabbed my arm, his concern radiating off him. He looked like he’d been worried sick. Like his love for me hadn’t faded in the slightest. My hands and feet went cold. A chill ran down my spine. How could he act so convincingly? He called me “honey” while his mistress was in the next room, finding out if she was carrying his child. And he did it all without a flicker of guilt. I
almost couldn’t tell which Jason was the real
one.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just visiting a friend.”
He exhaled, pulling me into a hug. “You scared
me, honey.”
“Were you worried about me?” I asked softly.
“Of course, I was worried!” He held me tight.
“You were so sick when we got married.” “I
spent three years nursing you back to health.”
“Honey, you don’t know how terrified I was
when I saw you here.” “What would I do if
anything happened to you?”
I wanted to laugh, but my lips wouldn’t move.
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They trembled, as if I’d swallowed hot oil.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
His grip tightened. “Visiting a…relative. He’s in
the hospital.”
This was the maternity ward. But I didn’t say a
word.
On the drive home, Jason’s phone kept ringing.
He finally switched it off. “I don’t care if the
president calls, I’m staying home with you
tonight.”
I stared out the window, watching the familiar
streets roll by. Our high school. The memories,
once sweet, now felt like honey–coated knives
twisting in my gut. My vision blurred. For a
moment, I saw us, younger.
