My heart had already sunk to rock bottom, yet I still clung to our three years of marriage, wanting to give Norma one last chance.
"But I heard my name was clearly on the admission list..."
"You heard wrong." Norma cut me off without hesitation, her brows knitting together as she spoke.
"Duane, I know you can't accept it, but this is just fate."
"You're not meant for college. Don't bother applying again..."
Fate?
But Norma knew better than anyone that my grades were good enough for university!
She was the one who'd torn up every single acceptance letter—torn away the wings that could have carried me toward my dreams.
Bitterness flooded my chest. I turned my head away, barely managing to hold back tears of disappointment. The Pruitts noticed something was off and shot Norma a look before stepping in to smooth things over.
"Norma! Is that any way to talk to your husband?"
"Duane, don't take her words too seriously. What she means is that even without college, with her by your side, you'll be just fine."
They gave Norma a pointed look.
Only then did she put on a show, leaning into my arms.
"Mom and Dad are right. I'm the principal—more than capable of providing for you..."
"Principal Pruitt! Mr. Percival Fox is on the phone! He says he's already on the train and wants you to pick him up!"
Before Norma could finish, someone outside interrupted.
"Really? Why am I only hearing about this now?"
"I need to go right away. It's so hot out—if Percival gets heatstroke, that would be terrible."
Her eyes lit up instantly. Without another word, she abandoned me and rushed out the door.
The Pruitts looked embarrassed, but they didn't forget to make excuses for their daughter.
"Louise called and asked Norma to look after Percival."
"After all, Louise is still Norma's sister, and Percival is your own brother..."
I looked at these two—my in-laws who had wept and knelt before me after Norma and I got married, swearing that everything before had been their fault, promising they'd never contact Louise or Percival again, begging for my forgiveness.
Now I understood. They were cut from the same cloth as Norma.
I shook my head slightly and said words that completely betrayed what I felt inside.
"Percival is my brother and Norma's brother-in-law. It's only right that she picks him up."
The Pruitts praised me for being sensible and understanding, yet they made no move to leave.
I knew why. They couldn't tell whether I knew about the acceptance letters.
I made an excuse about going into town to buy medicine and left.
At the pharmacy, I searched every pocket and couldn't scrape together enough for a tube of burn ointment.
I was about to leave when I heard Percival's familiar voice from behind a curtain.
"Norma, it's just low blood sugar. You really didn't need to bring me to the clinic."
"You spend so much money on me all the time. Doesn't my brother have a problem with it?"
Norma's voice dripped with indifference. "He's a man I support. What opinion could he possibly have?"
"Besides, you're down one kidney. You need to be extra careful."
"Doctor, I'll take all those supplements you mentioned. And throw in some candied fruit—he doesn't like bitter things. Something sweet for him to snack on."
"Thanks, Norma. Maybe... get some for my brother too? I don't want him overthinking."
Percival spoke, but I heard the contempt in Norma's reply.
"Why waste the money?"
"Besides, he can stomach any kind of bitterness. He doesn't need it."
"Last year, when those two fat pigs at the school got sick, he insisted on taking them all the way to town to see a vet."
