Love, No More

The last time Jared looked this nervous was during their wedding, back when his love was passionate, and his vows were thundering.

He had stayed loyally by her side, even after her accident and the loss of her eyesight.

She once thought their love would last forever, but dreams were never permanent.

After a while and some hesitation, Jared said, “Vanessa, we should have a big celebration for our anniversary this year.”

I agreed. This celebration would mark the end of our marriage.

Jared gave me a genuine smile.

Over the next few days, a sense of normalcy returned. Jared was seldom home, busy with preparations for the celebration.

Not only had he booked the rooftop banquet hall, but he even arranged for the ingredients for the banquet to be transported from abroad on the day of the event.

It was a day of happiness for some, and frustration for others. Regina hadn’t smiled once since Jared began preparing for the celebration.

Soon, the day arrived.

The majority of River City’s upper class gathered at the banquet hall. On the screen was a projected slideshow of pictures, captioned: “I love you, Darling. Until death do we part.”

While Jared made his rounds chatting with the guests, I stood alone to the side.

A few wives of powerful businessmen approached me to catch up.

“You’re so lucky, Mrs. Hampton!”

“Mhmm! Your husband has no room for anyone else in his eyes! He even prepared this whole day just for you.”

I smiled politely but did not comment.

Perhaps they found my lack of reaction boring because, after a while, they stopped with the pleasantries and began to gossip among themselves.

“Pfft. What a bunch of lies. True love, my foot!”

“She’s blind. What can she even do?”

“What a fool. Does she actually think Mr. Hampton hosted this event for her?”

I heard every word they said. I thought it would break me, but I was surprisingly calm.

“Mr. Hampton even prepared a fireworks show!” someone announced.

The guests began crowding toward the balcony for a better view.

I had been standing near the corner of the hall, but as the crowd moved, I found myself pushed toward the stage.

Guests shoved each other for space, and I lost my balance, falling to the ground.

My body knocked against the machinery, and I gasped in pain. Then, the slideshow and caption on the screen began to change.

Now, they were selfies of Regina, with the caption: “Welcome to the world, Baby.”

Everything made sense. None of this was for me.

After all, who would prepare a fireworks show for someone half-blind?

Even though my vision had partially returned, the sheer number of guests around me blurred everything.

I struggled to push myself up, but it was futile. The guests continued stepping on me as if I didn’t exist.

By the time I managed to lift my head, all I could see was Regina laying her head on Jared’s shoulder.

Fireworks erupted in the air, streaking gold across the night sky.

“I love you, Baby,” Jared said softly.

My chest constricted.

I couldn’t tell if it was my heart or my body that hurt, but I couldn’t take it anymore. My vision darkened, and my eyes rolled back.

When I woke, the sterile smell of disinfectant filled the air.

My vision was hazy, and my body ached. I sucked in a cold breath, trying to gather my bearings.

But what terrified me most was the conversation I overheard outside the corridor.

“Mr. Hampton, we’re seeing signs of the blood clot dispersing in your wife’s brain. Her vision could return soon.”

Instead of elation, I heard him growl, “Are you f*cking kidding me?!

“You promised me that if I fed her blood-clotting herbs, it would increase the size of the blood clot in her brain! You said it would damage her nerves so she’d go blind…”