Loved You for 10 Years, and You Said She’s the One

Awakened in the middle of the night by the vibrating phone on the bedside table.

Groggily, I grabbed the phone. The moment I unlocked it, I saw messages from my best friend Grace Farrar on WhatsApp:

“Willa Crowe, Katherine Grayson is back...”

“Willa, didn’t Ulysses Caldwell say he was going to propose to you? Why hasn't there been any movement on that?”

“Willa, a woman's youth only lasts a few years…”

I was now wide awake, my hand aching from gripping the phone too hard.

“Willa, what will you do now that Katherine is back?”

Ulysses had been acting strangely lately, often staring blankly at the painting of daisies in our living room.

It always gave me an uneasy feeling.

That painting was supposedly a gift from one of Ulysses' bosses, yet my sixth sense as a woman told me there was more to it, and I didn't like it.

I think Ulysses knew that, but he still hung it in the most prominent spot in the living room.

Ulysses was once again lost in the painting; I stared at his profile, getting lost myself.

The setting sun painted the sky a fiery red, its light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a glow on Ulysses' chiseled face.

On the coffee table was a bouquet of baby’s breath, also bathed in the sunset’s surreal glow.

We'd been together for three years, and this was the first time he had given me flowers. Saying I was overjoyed would be an understatement.

The aroma of the food on the table wafted through the room, the scent evoking a serene scene in my mind.

“Ulysses, dinner's ready!”

Startled, Ulysses snapped out of his daze, his gaze skittish when he looked at me.

He had something on his mind...

Was it work-related, or something else?

Ulysses worked as a network engineer at a publicly traded company. His hours were flexible yet relentless.

Often, his work consumed him, days blending into nights without rest.

His job took a toll on his stomach, frequently acting up from the irregular hours.

Wanting to spare him from the pain, I took it upon myself to handle all his meals.

“Don’t just stand there, have some soup first to warm your stomach, and then your favorite steak. The meat is really fresh today.”

Ulysses's silence made me feel overly chatty.

Fortunately, Ulysses always had a big appetite and appreciated my cooking. He devoured his meal while my steak was still half-finished.

Looking at the empty plates on the table, I quietly began to gather them, preparing to clean up in the kitchen.

“How many times have I told you, don't take more than you can eat! You never listen!”

His sudden anger startled me, making me shiver. The plate in my hand crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

I quickly crouched down, but a sharp shard pierced my finger.

“Hiss…” I sucked in a breath sharply, immediately pressing on the bleeding wound with my other hand.

“Next time, take less food. Wasting is shameful!” Ulysses walked past me, heading to the bedroom.

Standing there, stunned and overwhelmed by an unexpected wave of sadness, I fought back the sting in my eyes, my hands moving on autopilot.

Willa, why are you being so melodramatic over a little cut? It's no big deal...

When I finally returned to the bedroom, Ulysses was already lying there, presenting me with his cold back.

I resignedly picked up his scattered clothes, soaking his shirt in a basin and tossing his pants into the laundry basket.

A small white card slipped out of his pants pocket. Curious, I picked it up from the floor.

My love eternal: Red Roses $99.00

Grateful for you: Baby’s breath $29.90