The Ex-Husband Wanted Me Back

The unfamiliar white walls greeted me as soon as I opened my eyes. The fact that I laid on a hospital bed alone couldn’t be more suffocating, or when I remembered that burning sensation as water entered my lungs.

I convinced myself to think positively and reached for my phone, eager to tell my husband, Charles, that I had woken up, yearning for his comforting presence.

Just as I was about to click on his profile, however, a message appeared on my screen. The finger slipped a bit, and the message was opened.

My finger hovered over the screen, too stunned to even think rationally. There was a picture of a young cheerful girl who was smiling happily at the camera. Beside her, a man was also smiling gently as he put a piece of dish on the girl’s plate considerately.

They certainly enjoyed their meal like a couple having a quality time together.

Charles, knowing that I nearly died from drowning, had chosen to accompany his best friend’s little sister to a meal over me.

I was a bit too distraught to notice the text that Amanda had sent along with that picture, but now my eyes fixated on her seemingly harmless words.

[Please get well soon, Alicia. I was so scared when I saw you drowning. Charles was so worried too that I had to persuade him to have his lunch so that he would feel better. He cares a lot about you!]

If it was before, I would have been easily fooled by her innocent personality, but now I know that it was all an act. She wasn’t so innocent. Ever since she appeared, my marriage life hasn’t been very peaceful.

***

It took an hour until Charles visited the hospital room I was residing in.

Charles’ smile that I had seen earlier in that picture was gone, his forehead marred with a frown.

I lowered my eyes, showing no indication that I knew what had transpired with him and Amanda while I laid unconscious here.

“I really don’t know what’s going on with you lately.” Frustration etched in his tone.

I stayed silent, and it seemed to provoke his anger further. He pursed his lips, and his words sounded sarcastic. “It makes you childish to be so competitive with a girl who is so much younger than you like that.”

This time, I looked up and gave him a wry smile. He obviously didn’t understand my feelings and instantly misinterpreted it that I felt sorry for what had happened.

He scratched his hair as he sighed and his tone softened, “You know that Amanda is good at swimming. You don’t need to feel bad about it. I can teach you how to swim later.”

I controlled the urge to scoff at his words. It was ridiculous of me that upon waking up; I think that he would comfort me like he used to do.

The way he said all of that, he sounded like a boyfriend proudly showing off his girlfriend. He didn’t even ask how I am feeling, his priority had shifted to Amanda.

“I am not interested in learning how to swim.” I said, and he looked a bit surprised.

“Edward told me that you jumped straight to the pool and you almost drowned, it’s normal to be a bit traumatized because of it…” He trailed off a bit before he continued, “But none can be an expert at something in a matter of a day.”

His words would have been encouraging, if only all that he had spoken was true. Me, jumping straight to the pool like an idiot while knowing it myself that I can’t swim?

I know that someone has pushed me.

Now, hearing Edward’s name coming out of his mouth. I didn’t know which one sounded more disappointing; Charles taking me for an idiot or Edward, his younger brother, who had unjustly said incorrect things about me.

“Edward said that I jumped straight to the pool?” I asked.

He looked at me weirdly. “Wasn’t it like that? You don’t need to lie about it or make other excuses.”

I stared at him for a few seconds. That condescending face of his was etched on my mind. I was disappointed by his cruel words. I know that even if I try to explain, he would believe none of it.

However, it also wasn’t the first time I was disappointed by him. Again and again, I told myself that he would revert back to that person who had given me warmth and security. Would there be a chance for him to be that person again?

The ringing of a phone broke my tunnel of thoughts. I looked up to him and we locked eyes for a few seconds before he first broke away the eye contact.

He let out a cough and then handed me a box of food. “You should so that you will get better soon.”

“Where are you going?” I asked, as he took his jacket from the table.

“Amanda left something in the car and she needs it tomorrow for her class.” Charles walked toward the door, leaving me alone in this room.