Expired Love

I was kidnapped when I was a child.

After my adoptive parents passed away, my biological parents finally found me. They said they wanted to bring me home and restore my place in the family.

My biological parents were also the ones who spared no expense finding the best doctors to treat my eyes.

I hadn’t even had the chance to tell Sam about any of this yet.

On the phone, my mom sounded so emotional. “Hazel, you can see again? That’s amazing! Thank God!”

My dad was practically tripping over his own words. “If you’re willing to come home, your mom and I will be so happy. And don’t worry, I’ll find you the best divorce lawyer out there!

“We’ll be there in three days to bring you back to Northbridge.”

…

Coincidentally, the day I was supposed to leave happened to be the day Sam and I were finally going to have our long-awaited wedding ceremony.

When we first got married, we were broke. We couldn’t even afford a cheap zirconia ring, let alone a wedding dress or professional photos.

I still remember the day we registered our marriage.

Sam picked some roadside wildflowers, got down on one knee, and said, “Hazel, marrying me now probably feels like settling. But one day, when we’re doing better, I promise I’ll give you the wedding you deserve, one that’ll make everyone jealous.”

As the years passed, life got better and Sam became busier.

He went from Sam to Mr. Kirk, and his promise was pushed back.

It wasn’t until six months ago, when I lost my sight, that he finally wanted to throw that wedding. He said it might lift my spirits and bring me some hope.

Thinking back now, it all felt like one big, cruel joke.

At 1 a.m., the water finally stopped running in the bathroom.

I snapped back to the present just as Sam carried the secretary out in his arms. Then he gently laid her down on the bed before climbing right between us.

He turned to face me, reaching out like he wanted to hold me close. However, the moment he got near, I caught a whiff of her perfume on him.

It was sickening.

Bile rose in my throat. I swallowed it back and rolled away, curling up on the edge of the bed.

His hand froze midair.

No matter how hot it was in the summer, I used to cling to him when we slept. So, my sudden distance made him uneasy.

His voice trembled slightly as he tried to ease the tension. “Babe, maybe we should get some rest? When we wake up around noon, we can head over for the photoshoot. You’ll look so beautiful in your wedding dress.”

I hesitated for a moment. Since we’d already scheduled everything for the shoot, I answered flatly, “Okay.”

I used to think that if I ever caught Sam cheating on me, I’d totally lose it and make a public scene.

Now that the moment was actually here, I didn’t even want to make a fuss.

We’ve been together for twenty years. I don’t want our divorce to end in chaos.

…

The next day, noon.

At the wedding photography studio, the stylist helped me with makeup and accessories while I stood in front of the full-length mirror in a flowing white wedding dress.

“Miss Connor, this dress was made for you! Do you like it?” the manager asked, beaming.

Before I could respond, Sam came over with my cane, reaching out to wrap an arm around my waist.

I kept up the act of being blind and smoothly avoided his touch.

His hand awkwardly dropped back to his side, and he tried to cover his guilt with a gentle smile.

“You look amazing, babe. When your eyesight comes back someday, you’ll see how beautiful you look.”

The manager flinched at that, clearly realizing something she hadn’t before. “I’m so sorry, Miss Connor. I didn’t know you were blind.”

“It’s fine,” I cut in. “We’ll go with this one. Let’s start shooting.”

Just as we were getting ready to pose for our first shot, Alisa stormed in, waving a pregnancy test in her hand.

“Sam, what do we do? I’m pregnant! We just did it last night. Do you think it’s bad for the baby? Can you come with me to the hospital?”

At Alisa’s pouting, Sam’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Then, without thinking, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her.

They stood there, locked in a passionate kiss before me.

…

I had thought I was fully prepared to leave, and nothing he did could hurt me anymore. For some reason, watching him kiss her like that still pierced right through my heart.

“Sam, what’s going on? I thought I heard something weird,” I asked, voice trembling ever so slightly.

Startled, Sam quickly came back to his senses and pulled away from her lips.

He turned to me and explained, “It’s nothing, babe. Just another couple.”