THE WIFE HE NEVER WANTED

a's

impatient fingers drumming on glass. The cold air seeped into my s

ndle burned in the center, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Two pl

only one perso

e

pent hours preparing this meal, foolishly thinking that tonight would be

ing anni

orrow. But from the moment we got married, he had kept his distance. No warmth, n

rayers for him to look at me, to see me... he fi

get a d

stood across from me, his face unreadable, his expression as calm as ever. As

ice barely above a

ss the table. "I've already prepared t

me was printed neatly next to his, binding us together in ink

let them fall. I lifted my gaze to him, search

re was

set in a firm line. The same distant, i

a shaky breat

e marry you. I never

ed through me

never looked at me the way a husband should look at his wife. He never held my

it from his

h

ever imagi

s easy, and for a moment, he could make me feel like I was the only person in the world. I admired his fearlessness, his ce

d, swallowing back th

Something almost like guilt. But

to you," he said, his

ffering me pity? By pretending that breaking my

ers in his face, to demand why he ever marrie

ust smiled. A ho

's no

ing mine. Then his phone rang, breaking the heavy sile

ve to

He always

d the door without looking back. The moment it sh

lled down

niversar