Chapter 2: The Wife I Never Really Knew
I stayed at the hospital long after Sophie disappeared into her room.
I told myself I was waiting for my friend’s surgery update.
That was the reason I was there.
At least, that was the excuse.
The truth was much harder to accept.
I didn’t want to leave.
Not again.
For five years, I thought I knew Sophie better than anyone.
I knew how she took her coffee.
I knew she hated scary movies but watched them anyway because she loved seeing me laugh when she got nervous.
I knew she always bought extra groceries because she believed someone unexpected might show up hungry.
I knew she cried during commercials about families reuniting.
I knew everything about her.
Except the things that mattered most.
I didn’t know she was sick.
I didn’t know she was afraid.
I didn’t know she had been walking through the darkest period of her life while I was busy convincing myself I was the one suffering.
A nurse found me sitting in the waiting area.
“You’re family?””
The question caught me off guard.
I almost said yes.
Then I remembered.
I wasn’t her husband anymore.
“I used to be.””
The nurse looked at me carefully.
“She asks about you.””
My head lifted.
“What?””
The nurse gave a small smile.
“She told us not to call you.””
That sounded exactly like Sophie.
She would rather suffer silently than inconvenience someone else.
“Why would she ask about me if she didn’t want me here?””
The nurse shrugged.
“Maybe because those two things can exist at the same time.””
That sentence followed me all night.
Around midnight, I finally walked to Sophie’s room.
The door was slightly open.
She was awake.
She looked surprised when she saw me.
“Ethan.””
“I’m sorry.””
She sighed.
“You already said that.””
“I know.””
I stepped inside.
“But I don’t think I understood what I was apologizing for.””
Sophie looked away.
The room was small.
Too small for all the things we needed to say.
“I’m sorry I left when you needed me,” I continued.
She didn’t respond.
“I’m sorry I thought silence meant you didn’t care.””
Her eyes moved toward mine.
“And I’m sorry I made you believe you had to carry everything alone.””
For a moment, I thought she might tell me to leave.
Instead, she whispered:
“I hated you for a while.””
I nodded.
“I understand.””
“No, you don’t.””
Her voice trembled.
“I hated you because you were the person I wanted beside me.””
That hurt more than anger.
“You were my husband,” she said.
“You were supposed to be the person I could fall apart with.””
I sat down slowly.
“I know.””
“But you couldn’t.””
The honesty was painful.
“I was scared.””
“So was I.””
Her answer was immediate.
And that was the thing I finally understood.
We had both been afraid.
But instead of holding onto each other, we had each chosen a different way to run.
“I thought leaving would stop us from hurting each other,” I admitted.
Sophie looked at me.
“And did it?””
I looked around the hospital room.
At the IV beside her bed.
At the woman I still loved.
“No.””
The word was barely a whisper.
“No, it didn’t.””
She turned her face away.
“I don’t know what happens now.””
Neither did I.
But for the first time in months, I knew what I wanted.
“I want to help.””
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Because you feel guilty?””
The question stopped me.
Because she deserved honesty.
“Maybe part of me does.””
I took a breath.
“But mostly because I still love you.””
Silence filled the room.
Sophie closed her eyes.
“You can’t just say that now.””
“I know.””
“You can’t come back because you’re scared of losing me.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you here?””
I looked at her.
Because there was no perfect answer.
No magical sentence that could erase months of pain.
“Because I should have been here before.””
Her expression softened slightly.
But only slightly.
The door opened.
The doctor walked in holding another folder.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.””
Sophie immediately looked nervous.
“What is it?””
The doctor glanced between us.
Then at me.
“There’s something else Ethan needs to know.””
My stomach tightened.
“What now?””
The doctor placed the folder on the table.
“Sophie’s condition isn’t the only reason she was hospitalized.””
Sophie’s face went pale.
“Doctor…”
He stopped.
And I knew.
May you like
Whatever was inside that folder was something Sophie had been trying to hide from me.
Again.
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