Harry stood tall in a suit from this season's new collection.
Cicely, cheeks flushed, was nestled against his chest.
They smiled at each other, the air between them thick with intimacy.
"Mr. Dickerson, what brings you here..."
A sales clerk recognized me, her voice cutting through the moment.
It wasn't loud, but it was enough. Cicely and Harry both heard.
They pulled apart quickly, turning to look at me.
Anger flashed across Cicely's face. She strode toward me, her voice sharp.
"Morton, what are you doing here? Were you following me? How pathetic can you be?"
I looked at her calmly, then at Harry standing behind her.
Harry's height. His waist and shoulder measurements...
I let out a quiet laugh. So that's what happened. They'd mixed up my measurements with Harry's. No wonder the suit I'd picked up didn't fit.
"I wasn't following anyone. The suit you ordered came in, but it's not my size. I'm here to return it."
I held up the garment bag and waved it in front of her.
"I'll leave it here. I have other things to do, so I'll get out of your way."
I turned to leave.
Cicely's face twisted through a dozen emotions. Her beautiful eyes burned with anger.
"Morton, don't push it! There's nothing going on between me and Harry. Don't project your dirty thoughts onto us!"
I shrugged with a faint smile.
"I wasn't thinking anything. No need to get upset."
With that, I walked out.
I realized I might actually be making progress. Seeing Cicely and Harry together like that—it didn't hurt as much as it used to.
That night, after Cicely came home and showered, she did something she hadn't done in a long time.
She walked into my room.
She wore a thin nightgown that traced every curve of her body. Her dark, wavy hair spilled over her shoulders, and she smelled like the perfume I loved.
She climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around me from behind.
"Morton... don't misunderstand what happened these past few days. There's really nothing between me and Harry. He's just talented at work, and I want to nurture that potential. I know I've been neglecting you lately. It's been so long since we... Morton, turn around. Hold me."
Her voice was soft, almost sweet. I felt my resolve waver.
Her hand moved over me.
The truth was, I still loved her. That hadn't changed.
During those long, gray years when my hearing loss isolated me from the world, she had been the only light. She gave me warmth. She gave me love. The decade we'd spent together meant everything to me.
I didn't want to hold back anymore.
I turned and pulled her close, kissing her with a hunger I'd kept buried.
She let me, accepting the flood of emotion. I reached for my hearing aid, ready to take it off so we could go further.
Then her phone rang.
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
She answered. A few brief words, and then she shoved me away, sitting up in a panic.
"Morton, Harry has a fever. He's really not feeling well. I need to go check on him!"
She slipped on her shoes and rushed out without a second glance.
The door opened and closed. Silence returned.
I sat alone on the bed, feeling the last traces of her presence fade from the air.
My phone buzzed. A message from Harry.
[Hey Morton, I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Asked Cicely to come check on me. Don't be mad, okay!]
I stared at the screen, expressionless.
Then I laughed. No sound came out.
Harry had won.
