1. Uncovering the deception
1599 Words
1. Discovering the Deception
Amelia
It's already midnight, and my anniversary is officially over. I've been waiting for hours for my husband to come home. I've been calling his phone, but it's still off. I pace around the living room, wondering what I should do at this point. The best option would be to call his parents to let them know and ask for their help in finding him. But they'll probably think I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. They've never liked me. Despite not coming from a renowned family, they always wanted their son to marry a woman of a higher economic status, so to them, I'm not good enough.
We got married twelve years ago, right after graduating high school. A slip-up with birth control led to the moment every woman dreams of. I married the man of my life when I was only eighteen years old. Nine months later, the second love of my life arrived, little Antonio. He was a little ball of flesh, pink and round. Everyone said I looked like a little girl playing with dolls.
Two years later, Liliana arrived. The apple of my husband's eye. While Antonio was blond and his facial features were very similar to mine, Lili was a beautiful redhead, almost identical to her JuanLu. They both inherited their father's beautiful green eyes.
Our life together was always harmonious. At nineteen, he became a responsible man who studied and worked to provide us with everything we needed. So I can say that we have been very happy.
The sound of the phone snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Hello?" I answer with some concern.
"Good evening, I'm calling because the owner of this phone was in an accident, and this is the last number he received a call from. Please, if you are a family member or acquaintance of this person, we would appreciate it if you could come to Lenox Hill Hospital as soon as possible."
I couldn't even utter a word. The phone slipped from my hands and fell to the floor. This can't be happening. Juan Luis has been in an accident. I immediately go upstairs to get my purse. The kids aren't home because, wanting to surprise my husband, I sent them to sleep at my mother's house. I grab my car keys and rush to the hospital. Twenty minutes later, I arrive at the reception desk. I don't know who to ask, so I inquire with the first person who crosses my path.
"Good evening, miss, excuse me, who can give me information about a patient who was just admitted?" The person kindly points me to the place where they provide patient information. I practically fly over there.
"Sir, good evening, I received a call that Juan Luis Peña was admitted a short while ago. Can you tell me where I need to go?" The man types something into his computer. After long minutes, he looks up at me.
"Indeed, Mr. Juan Luis Peña arrived accompanied by his girlfriend. They were both in a car accident. They are still being evaluated, as the gentleman has not yet regained consciousness. You can go down that hallway to get more information."
Out of everything he said at the end, I couldn't hear anything else. He told me that Juan Luis and his girlfriend were in an accident. His girlfriend? What girlfriend?
I quickly thank him and head towards the place he indicated. My heart starts to race. I think it knows that what I'm about to find is going to shatter it completely.
"My love, wake up. Come on, honey. We were having such a good time."
Before entering the room, I hear those words. No, I don't think they're for my husband. He would never do this to me. However, when the door opens, I freeze at the scene before me.
Juan Luis is lying on a bed, unconscious, as if he were just sleeping. A young, slim blonde woman clings to him, trying to wake him up.
"My love, come on, don't be lazy, wake up. Look, your witch of a wife must be looking for you. And I don't want her to find you here. Come on, honey. Wake up, and I promise we'll keep making love like we were doing a while ago."
I can't listen anymore. I leave the room and lean against the wall outside, so as not to collapse. So that's why he wasn't answering me. That's why he wasn't coming home. Tears soon well up in my eyes. I rub them away forcefully, as if to see if what I just witnessed wasn't just a dream. Or rather, a nightmare.
Two nurses approach, chatting among themselves, paying no attention to me.
"They say the couple that just came in was being very affectionate, and that's why they crashed. Either they couldn't wait to get to where they were going to do their thing, or they were coming from somewhere and didn't have enough, hahaha."
Their words pierce my ears and my heart. I ask myself now what I should do. I decide to sit on one of the benches outside for family members. I'll wait for my husband to wake up. I don't want to interrupt him with his girlfriend inside.
Two long hours pass, during which the pain in my heart continues to grow. The hope that it's all just a misunderstanding fades with each passing minute. Another half hour later, a doctor enters. The woman comes out of the room. She looks at me and smiles maliciously. She obviously knows who I am and is rubbing it in my face.
I decide to go in and ask about Juan Luis's condition. I know he doesn't need me by his side, but knowing he's okay will allow me to leave. He doesn't need me by his side.
"Good evening, doctor." The doctor turns to look at me. My husband is now awake and gives me a strange look. He knows I'm going to find out about his secret.
"Go ahead, and you are?" I give him a fake smile and answer with a lie.
"I'm Mr. Peña's relative. They called me to let me know about the accident." My husband's eyes widen in surprise.
I don't think he was expecting my answer.
"Alright, you can come in. Mr. Peña is doing well; now that he's awake, we can see that there's no brain damage. Both he and his girlfriend are in good condition. I suggest they spend the night here, and I'll discharge them tomorrow." He starts writing something on his notepad and excuses himself.
When we're alone, my still-husband gives me a look that I can't quite decipher: anguish? pain? shame?
"Amelia, I..." he begins to say, when suddenly the blonde enters again.
"Honey, they told me I'm fine. I'm going to stay here tonight, but I asked to sleep with you. That way we can leave together tomorrow."
The woman pretends not to see me, but she's very aware of my presence.
"Katty, please. Go to your room. This is my wife."
The blonde turns to look at me, wincing slightly.
"What is she doing here? Why did you call her? I'm your girlfriend now, and you're getting a divorce very soon. Tell her to leave, honey."
She approaches the bed where my husband is lying and takes his hand. My gaze falls on that spot. He doesn't pull away but on the contrary, he gives her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Please, Katty, let me talk to her."
The girl lets go of him and walks towards the door. As she passes me, she gives me a slight shove. I can't react at this moment. I think I'm in shock because I can't even move.
"Amy, I'm so sorry. This wasn't the way I wanted you to find out. I swear I never wanted to hurt you. It's just something I couldn't help. Forgive me."
Hearing that word, it feels like my body is starting to thaw after being frozen. Tears begin to flow uncontrollably.
"You're sorry? Really?" I angrily wipe away the tears that are still streaming down my face.
"Forgive you? No, I can't. I'll never forget or forgive what you've done to me. If you didn't love me anymore, this wasn't the way. You should have ended our relationship first. That's not how you do things. I've known you for fifteen years. You know I would have understood. I know that sometimes love doesn't last forever. But you preferred to do everything behind my back. But if that's what made you happy, that's your problem. Don't ask me to understand when it never crossed my mind to ever cheat on you. Don't worry. Just as our life together began on a day like today, it ends on the same day. And don't worry, I'll never stand in the way of a divorce. You're young, and you deserve to be with the woman you choose. And if that's no longer me, I'll step aside."
At that moment, the door to the room opens to let in my mother-in-law. She's accompanied by the woman who helped destroy my home.
"Son, my God! What happened to you?" The woman completely ignores me and leans over her son.
The girl goes with her and positions herself on the other side of the bed. I'm the only intruder here.
Not wanting to be humiliated any further, I grab my purse and walk out. I walk out of that room and out of his life.
- Writer
