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The stillness in the room felt suffocating,
as if time itself had frozen.
Marcus‘ s phone rang again, but he
didn’t react, as though he hadn’t even heard it.
Madeline, seeing his desolate state, hesitated before picking up the phone and placing it on speaker.
“Is this Mr. Parker? This is Blissful Bistro. Mrs. Caroline Parker made a reservation for a couples‘ dinner tonight! We‘ ve been trying to reach her. Are you still coming?” the restaurant staff s polite inquiry echoed in the room.
Madeline glanced at Marcus, ready to decline, but Marcus suddenly spoke.
“I’ll be there,” he said, his voice low but
firm.
A wave of unease washed over Madeline.
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“Marcus, maybe I should go with you,
she suggested hesitantly.
Marcus shook his head. “No. Caroline wouldn’t want to see you.”
His words pierced Madeline like a dagger, her face draining of color.
He was right. I wouldn’t want to see her.
Marcus went to the restaurant alone, sitting at the table I had reserved for us.
One by one, the dishes I’d ordered – his favorites – were brought out, but he didn’t touch them. He just stared at the food in silence.
Finally, the waiter brought out a beautifully decorated cake.
The words on top said it all: Happy Anniversary.
Today was our wedding anniversary – the day he had forgotten.
Marcus sat in the empty restaurant long
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after it had closed, his body numb.
When he finally returned home, he didn‘ t turn on the lights. He sat alone in the dark, unmoving, until morning.
The next day, there was a knock at the door.
Marcus opened it to find a package I had sent him.
Puzzled, he carried the package back. inside and opened it. Inside was a USB drive and a set of documents.
He plugged the USB into his computer, and there I was my face pale but smiling, staring back at him from the screen.
“Marcus, I lied. I don‘ t have cancer. I was just jealous – jealous of how you took care of Madeline when she had cancer. I’m leaving, don’t bother looking for me. I’ve signed the divorce papers. Now you can be with her,” my voice rang out, calm and steady.
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Marcus’s hands shook as he pulled the documents from the package, staring at my signature.
His eyes filled with tears as they spilled. over, and he began to cry, his sobs echoing through the empty room.
Regret and guilt washed over him like a tidal wave.
He regretted not discovering my lie sooner, regretted not being there when I needed.
him most.
He blamed himself for neglecting me for the sake of Madeline, for letting me suffer
in silence.
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