The Watch (Short Story)

I could feel the cold breeze of the wind throughout my entire soul and it makes me shiver. I’m still lucky to drive straight at home despite of my drunkenness. I’m a bit dizzy and tipsy. I want to sleep and I need a rest. The ladies in Ben’s party were so damn hot, I got the phone number of the hottest among them anyway. I’ll just call her when I have the time. Having said that, what time is it now? Hmm, lemme take my phone in the pocket to check. It’s already 2:43 in the morning. Ughh, I’m missing the soft bed and pillows.

As I stepped inside the house, I saw her again as usual. She’s sleeping in the sofa with tired eyes and her hair is starting to have strands of grays. Is she on a diet? I can already see her deep collarbones. Is she trying to impressed me? She better have, I want a pretty chic wife and not someone like her who look so old and dull. If I only knew that she will end-up like this, I think I’ll never marry her in the first place.

I was about to go in the bedroom when I suddenly heard a weary voice.

“Y-you’re here, how’s Ben’s charity work? Have you fed the homeless?”, she said.

“Yes everything went well. I have nothing to say, I want to sleep”. I never told her that it is Ben’s party and not a charity. I don’t like arguments and long explanation.

“Wait… Happy 3rd wedding anniversary my love. I cooked all your favorite foods but it’s now cold. B-but I can heat it in the oven. Do you want to eat? By the way, here is my anniversary gift for you. Come on, open it.”, she said with pure excitement.

I feel guilty somehow ‘cause I never recall that today is our anniversary but I don’t want to look weak in front of her, I'm the boss in this family. “I know and you think our anniversary is more important than feeding the homeless? We can celebrate anytime but these people need help, asap. Here’s the money, go to the mall and have your shopping spree. Please don’t make me talk too much. I am really sleepy.”

That’s our everyday routine or maybe my everyday routine. I go to work, I drink and then I will drive back home but sometimes, I mean mostly I am in a hotel with someone to relax. Why would I bother to think about Sarah, I always give her lots of money and her only job is to look after our 2 kids. She’s just at home while I’m always at the office so I deserve to unwind.

Months passed by and it’s now summer. I’m on my way to Nimfa’s house to pick her up. I just met her in a club and she approached me first so who am I to ignore a very good catch fish. I am just a few blocks away from Nimfa’s house when my phone rings in a sudden. Ohh, it was Sarah. What does she want, not this time so I turned off my phone immediately.

I spend a night with a girl in the club and now I’m heading home. I opened the door but there’s no one inside and I can feel the deafening silence. Where’s everybody? I don’t know what force it is that made me moved in front of the cabinet. I opened it and I saw a little white box wrapped in a red fancy ribbon. I recognized it, it was Sarah’s anniversary gift for me. It’s a silver wrist watch with a short note.

Dear Honey,

I hope that you will like this watch though it’s not expensive. The money that you’re giving to me everytime is what I save to buy this present for you. Thank you so much for working so hard to provide for us.

I’m always missing you. I always miss how we used to eat together and the warm feeling of sleeping in your arms. I am longing for your hugs and kisses.

I love You and Happy Anniversary. My heart will always be yours.

Love,
Sarah

I felt a romantic excitement as I’m reading it. Maybe I should bring you again to a movie theater, but where are you? I almost forgot, my phone was still off from yesterday so I turned it on now. Woah! There are tons of message from my sister-in-law but there’s one text from her that caught up my attention. I hurriedly went to the hospital.

In four corners of a solemn room, there’s you lying in the bed. I call your name but you didn’t answer back. You are breathing but your body is in a deep sleep. Your sister told me that you're suffering from Leukemia and on the last stage of it. Now I know why you're getting thinner, you're sick. The doctor said that if you could live a week, you are lucky. I freezed for a moment, my head can’t absorb everything while my knees are shaking.

It’s been a month now. I sent our kids to your sister to have a vacation there while I’m still figuring out things. A sudden wind kissed my cheeks as if it is you who is kissing me. I burst into tears as I realized all the things that I have done wrongfully. I never think about you, I was selfish. I never realized that while I’m sleeping with the other girls, you are waiting patiently for me to come home. I never realized that while I’m holding a bottle of beers, you are cooking and doing all the household chores alone. I never realized that while I’m giving you money, it’s me and my time that you really want. I never realized the while I keep on looking at sexy chics, you are missing the look that I used to have towards you before. I never realized that while I’m throwing sugar-coated words to impressed them, you are yearning for my love. I have never realized all of these until you were gone. I missed you so much.

Photo Credit:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/silver-linked-bracelet-silver-and-black-round-chronograph-watch-190819/