HIS WIFE, MY HEART

e, not even acknowledged at first. But Elija

wed up mo

iting with a book in her lap or skimming through her phone. She didn't speak much to anyone, just smiled politely, always und

ions grew more careful. Some employees postured a little more, Others watched her curi

ous about her beauty a

re was no need for her to perform. As though she was once loud and vibrant but

what pull

noticed

y, But in those soft glances,

ll entrance, their arms brushe

it

ng," s

"You rememb

people," she repl

tly against the marble, leaving the scent

od there f

sometimes followed him to the office,

-

earlier at first, to thirty. Sometimes she came before him, as she would be seated a

canteen downstairs and walked past

ooked up

e sto

early,"

are

pty seat beside her.

nly a second b

okay?" s

nece

she said with

yal

dic

and a silence ar

"I like this time of morning. The wo

"Do you usually wa

Sometimes I

d him more than

didn'

. "Seems you always br

e's quieter th

tter co

ged. "So

ceptionist's desk and sat at her feet

you," El

s good

lijah watched her, trying to ignore the

ne's wife, Hi

as always just slightly delayed,

-

s, client briefs, deadlines. Mark was in good spirits, praising Elij

wall behind him. Sofia was there again, seated on th

ttention

d more lately," Mark mut

didn't

n?" Mark added, look

e he kept his voice o

g to do. She used to work in a publishi

affection i

," Elijah sa

t smile. "Too sm

discomfort trying t

-

h; Not bolder, never inappropriate, but infu

ssed by his offic

ng the elevators, waiting for her

d back finishing reports. Everyone had already go

ame th

door with a plast

ark got pulled into a dinner downt

blinked

ngr

w

orescent lighting, as she passed the food a

it d

king here?" she

manage

ot a good

ble, after everythin

ryth

d. "Just, p

ed. Didn

u don't talk like

t a goo

alk to be heard, You

d to being se

terrifi

-

rning, she

h he'd been hoping for he

ad been building between them wasn't real, maybe it had all be

came

saw her leaning against the

look

eyes

not the polite s

w, that remember