5%
And there they were, my husband and his mistress, feeding each other bites. So sweet that it made my stomach turn.
Meanwhile, I was chewing on a sandwich that tasted like cardboard.}
Rusty had bought breakfast “especially for me.” Too bad it was slathered in ketchup, my least favorite thing in the world. But of course, it was Gale’s favorite.
Only after Gale was full and satisfied did Rusty finally remember my existence. He glanced over and noticed the barely touched sandwich
in my hand. Assuming I was mad about the milk incident earlier, he looked like he was about to scold me, until his eyes landed on the burn on my arm.§
The words died in his throat. All that was left was a flicker of tenderness.
“Shannon,” he said softly, “I cleared my entire schedule for you today. Let’s just enjoy ourselves, alright?“}
Before I could say no, he was already leading me toward the car.
He opened the passenger door for me, but Gale beat me to it. She strutted over, slid right in, and made herself comfortable without even pretending to offer me the seat. Her spoiled, smug face said it all. She knew she belonged there, and no one was going to argue.” And Rusty didn’t.”
In the end, I took the back seat.}
Maybe out of guilt, he kept checking in on me during the drive, asking how I was feeling from time to time. He also made sure to drive slowly and smoothly the whole way, like he was showing me how considerate he could be.
But even as he was “caring” for me, his fingers were laced with Gale’s. At every stoplight, he would bring her hand to his lips and kiss it, his face glowing with affection he didn’t even try to hide.
He didn’t let go of her hand the entire ride.}
When we arrived, he also reassured Gale over and over, promising not to touch me, not to do anything that would make her feel insecure. Only then did she agree to wait in the car while we went in.
And true to his word, he kept his distance. As we moved through the crowds, I hobbled along slowly with my cane, step by step. He did occasionally gesture to others to give me space, which I guess counted as being thoughtful.}
He took me through all the attractions one by one. After each ride, he’d bring up a memory from our past as if reliving those moments would somehow mean something.
But for me, the sweetness was long gone. All that was left was a tangled mess of love and resentment.
He wasn’t the only one who knew this place inside and out.}
This was where he’d confessed his love and proposed to me. Every turning point in our relationship had happened here. This place was the start of all my hopes, all my feelings for him.
Who would’ve thought hearts could change so easily?}
The same man who once swore I was the only one for him, who said we’d be together forever, was now kissing someone else like I never existed.
And yet, he still insisted he loved me, that everything he did, all the lies, had been “necessary.“}
That ridiculous contradiction hit its peak when we stood in front of the Ferris wheel.
*Shannon, do you remember this?” he asked, looking emotional. “People say if a couple kisses at the very top of a Ferris wheel, they’ll stay together forever. That’s why I confessed to you up there.“}
I didn’t have the heart to tell him he had the wrong girl.”
I was mildly afraid of heights, so there was no way I would’ve accepted a confession up there.
His voice wavered with emotion as he turned to look at me, hoping to see some warmth in my expression.
But my face was blank.
He was stunned, caught off guard by my indifference. His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but then someone screamed in the distance.%
A commotion broke out, and people started shouting and running. In the chaos, I nearly lost my balance, shoved around by the panicked crowd.
And what did Rusty do?%
Upon hearing there was a fire, without hesitation, he ran straight toward the parking lot, toward Gale.
He left me, his blind wife, alore in the middle of a stampede, as if I’d just vanish or figure things out on my own.
But I didn’t cry this time or feel disappointed.
Instead, I slipped away in the chaos and hailed a cab home.!!
