Chapter 3
In my hazy state, I suddenly remembered when Axel and I first got together.]
We met through a blind date our mutual friend arranged. Somehow, we clicked instantly during our first meeting.
Neither of us could handle spicy food. We both hated overpowering flavors. We shared a love for documentaries and Indie films, and both wanted a home filled with plants and pets.[]
I really thought Axel and I were meant to be. What a joke. I naively assumed he felt the same way, He certainly played the part–attentive, thoughtful, even making that dramatic promise at my parents‘ graves that he’d “love me forever.”
It never crossed my mind that someone else already owned his heart.
Everyone kept telling me how crazy Axel was about me. Like an idiot, I swallowed it all
Until Layla–his precious first love–came back from Europe.
That night stands out in my memory. Pouring rain, past midnight. Her call woke us both up, and despite my protests, Axel threw on clothes and bolted. Just like that.
Looking back, that should’ve been my wake–up call about how much Layla meant to him.[]
Instead, I bought his half–assed excuse about her depression. He made it sound like he was her only lifeline, and soft–hearted fool that I was, I believed him.[]
Why couldn’t Layla see a therapist? Take medication? Call literally anyone else? Why always my husband, and why always in the middle of the night?
To make it worse, Layla added me on social media–Axel’s brilliant idea to “prove” nothing was happening.]
They kept insisting everything was innocent. “We’re just worried you’ll misunderstand, Ember.“[]
Meanwhile, this supposedly sweet, innocent Layla kept sending me photos that were anything but innocent.]
Movie nights together. Axel cooking dinner for her. Axel sleeping on her couch, exhausted. Their hands clasped together.]
Every time I confronted him about these obvious provocations, he’d just rub his temples like I was some hysterical lunatic he had to deal with.]
“Jesus Christ, Ember, I’m fucking exhausted, he’d snap
“I’m just trying to keep her from killing herself. There’s nothing between us.”
“Can you stop with the jealous bullshit for once?”
Looking at how he reacted after her death–murdering our unborn child and burning me alive–It sure as hell wasn’t “nothing”
Now I’m living through this nightmare again, backed into a corner by the same man.]
Axel never loved me.]
I completely misjudged him, and I paid for it with my life once already.
