Between Love and Betrayal

up early that morning, alone in the large, too-silent room. Daylight barely filtered through the thick curtains, as if the hous

e each minute seemed to escape her, like grains of sand she could not hold back. Henri was still as distant, as cold. He came and went like a ghost, absurd in his ges

oom, where antique furniture stood in a disturbing quietude, but something caught her eye. A small drawer, barely ajar, in a dark wooden piece of furniture. A drawer t

gment of Henri's past, a past that Lena had never had access to. Her heart beat faster with each letter she glanced over. The words, elegant and romantic, seemed foreign t

and emotion. This other woman, to whom he had confided promises, dreams, caresses, seemed to be the love of his life. Lena felt a pain she would never have believe

ke that should not be allowed to come to light. But the weight of the d

say something that might calm the storm that was shaking her mind. But Henri did not come. He ba

d walked towards him. Looking him straight in the eyes, she felt bittern

lk," she said, her vo

rowing his jacket on the couch, his movements abrupt an

married me, but... I don't know who you are, or what you feel for me.

gaze to her. His eyes were cold, like a calm but

one curt. "There's nothing to understand. We have commitm

be so distant, so indifferent to the pain she felt? How could he simply turn away from her, as if it were

e held it back. She had no right to cry. Not here. Not in front of

ir and immersed himself in a book, completely indifferent to her presence. Lena, for her part,

an almost soothing darkness, but the sile

ating her more and more each day. She put on her coat, her steps taking her through the garden towards t

hour. He wore a dark coat and looked as tense as she did. He let o

ut there, Lena," he said in a

er's shadow. He wasn't supposed to be a person in her life, and yet, he seemed to be there, in this

nside anymore," she replied, her

ng slightly. "I understand.

tures or trivial questions. No, he seemed to really understand. A connection,

aling with silence," she sa

o run away, to hide in this silence, to believe that all yo

his voice, an understanding that disturbed her. How could this man

almost shyly, before turning

he found herself alone in the darkness of the night, but she knew something had just happene