This was Hansel’s first time driving in five years.
In his five years of faking his depression, he had been good at acting. He did not talk and barely consumed anything. He even needed help to put on his clothes.
My life revolved around taking care of him. Every day, I’d wake up at 6:00 am to make breakfast for him. He’d come home at midnight. I could only head to bed late after getting him in bed and washing up.
I had to coax him, feed him, and take care of his physical and emotional needs. I drove him to work and to his treatment
appointments.
The last five years of my life were all about Hansel. I lived for him.
Never had I thought that Hansel would use his psychotherapy sessions to seek pleasure with Giselle. I had so much hope in
psychotherapy.
No wonder he looked overjoyed before his hospital visit every time.
I was more surprised at the fact that he had faked his depression. My fear, anxiety, and sacrifice over these years in hopes of his
recovery were nothing but a joke.
I stared at my pallid face in the rearview mirror and almost could not recognize myself. For five years, I lost my appetite and my
sleep as I took care of him.
I used to love dressing up and taking care of myself, but I hadn’t stood in front of the mirror for the longest time.
It was time I reclaimed my identity as Melissa Colby.
Hansel’s ringing phone cut through the silence. He had set a special ringtone for Giselle’s contact.
He immediately rejected her call. Looking embarrassed, he explained to me, “Mel, don’t take it too seriously. I set the special
ringtone for fun…”
“It’s fine.” I cut him off.
He seemed taken aback when he saw my uncaring expression for the first time ever. He tried to speak, but I had closed my eyes.
Soon, Giselle called again. He rejected her call, but she wasn’t about to give up.
Feeling annoyed, he turned off his phone.
His action reminded me of that stormy night when I had called him in fear. He picked up my call and immediately snapped at me,
telling me not to kick up a fuss. I couldn’t get to him after that.
I bet he felt this irritable back then when he had turned off his phone to shut me out.
1/2
Suddenly, he stepped on the brakes. I opened my eyes in confusion and saw Giselle standing before our car.
“Mel, give me a minute.”
He wore a stiff expression when he got out of the car. He pulled Giselle to the roadside. She hugged him tight and said something to him. A surprised smile lit up his face.
Hansel opened the car door and bent over to unfasten my seatbelt. I saw a fleeting look of guilt in his eyes.
“Mel, Giselle isn’t feeling well. Let’s take her to the hospital before we go home. She suffers from motion sickness; do you mind sitting in the back?”
Although Hansel was asking a question, he did not give me a choice at all. I was nearly dragged out and stuffed into the backseat.
Giselle joined us in the car. Her strong fragrance filled the air. She cooed, “Thank you, Mel.”
I immediately felt sick in the stomach. Hansel seemed to have forgotten about my motion sickness.
Well, he certainly remembered my condition before he fell into “depression“. In the past, he’d prepare everything for me the night before I had to take the car. He’d get the first–aid kit, antihistamines, and light fragrance ready when we got into the car.
During the drive, he’d sing and chat with me to distract me from my symptoms with his love and joy.
I shut my eyes and tried to hold back my discomfort. Occasionally, I could hear Giselle moaning sensually from the front passenger seat.
“Stop fooling around!” Hansel chastised her, sounding a little cross. That finally shut her up for a bit.
When we arrived at the hospital, Hansel helped Giselle into the hospital. I got out too because I wanted to talk to Colin about my treatment abroad.
From afar, I spotted Hansel walking Giselle to the OB–GYN department. I couldn’t help but follow them.
I heard his excited voice from within the consultation office.
“Oh, this is amazing! Giselle, I’m finally having a child! You’re so
awesome!”
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