Through the closed door, I could hear Calvin's thumbs tapping against his phone screen.
Snippets of voice messages leaked through the gap. I didn't need to guess who he was chatting with. It was Cara.
I'd actually fought with him about this once. Calvin brushed it off, said I was making a big deal out of nothing.
“I'm with you every single day. What could possibly be so urgent you need to text me? If it's an emergency, call. If it's not, just tell me when I get home.”
“Cara's different. We don't see each other every day, so messaging is totally normal!”
The logic was airtight.
It shut down every argument I could have made.
I pressed my fingers against the bridge of my nose and walked into the bedroom.
By the time I came back out, Calvin had already ordered delivery and was eating.
One serving. Nothing for me.
A laugh escaped before I could stop it, my voice shaking as I asked him：“Why did you only order one?”
“Huh? You want some?”
“I figured you were dieting for the wedding dress!”
He didn't even lift his head when he said it.
If he had, he would have seen my tears.
But he didn't.
“Calvin, can we talk?”
I took a deep breath and pulled out a chair, but the moment I sat down, he stood up.
“No time.”
“I told Cara I'd game with her.”
The takeout container left on the table for me to clean up. The chair I'd just pulled out. The man already walking away.
In that moment, every ounce of pressure in the apartment came crashing down on me at once.
My chest felt sealed off, like a plastic bag pressed over my mouth, and I couldn't get a full breath in.
From the study, I heard them already on voice chat.
“Calvin, have you seen the new movie that just came out? I've been dying to see it.”
“I knew you'd bring it up. Already bought the tickets. I'll take you tomorrow.”
“You're always so thoughtful!”
“A coworker mentioned it today, and I grabbed the tickets right away so I could surprise you.”
Every word Calvin said without a second thought reverberated in my ears.
For Cara, he always had time. Always had the thought.
For me, all he ever had was one line“She's a friend. You're my wife. How is that the same?”
Calvin, if being your wife is this exhausting, I'd rather just be your friend.
I slammed my foot into the study door and it flew open.
Calvin whipped around, instinctively covering the microphone with his hand.
He frowned, staring at me like he couldn't understand what the problem was.
“We have our wedding dress fitting tomorrow. Did you forget?”
The sharpness I'd been holding back bled through my voice.
Calvin seemed to register my tone. His expression tightened with visible discomfort.
“I made plans with Cara to see a movie tomorrow. Already bought the tickets.”
“Can't you just go try on dresses by yourself? It's not like I'd be any help. Or ask Marian to go with you.”
One second. That was all it took for him to come up with a replacement plan and an excuse.
Going with his wife to try on wedding dresses? Not important.
Taking his female friend to the movies? That mattered.
“No.”
I refused, and there was nothing uncertain about it.
Calvin glanced at the game still running on his screen. Cara's voice crackled through his headset, urging him to hurry up. Irritation flashed across his face.
“Sarah, am I not allowed to have my own plans? My own life?”
“Once we're married, does everything have to revolve around you?”
I almost laughed at that.
When had anything ever revolved around me?
Not a single text from him during the workday. The second he got home, he disappeared into his games.
Every step of the wedding planning, he'd been absent. He still hadn't gone with me to pick out our rings……
His world was full. Who it revolved around was anyone's guess.
I looked at him, the disappointment settling deep. “Calvin, is this wedding only my responsibility?”
The words came out worn thin with exhaustion.
