“Horrible? This is so much more than horrible. It’s a real life, low budget horror flick, Henry! I do love you, and I cannot deny that, but you are lying to me. I hate lying. You know that!”
“I do. I know.” His whispers were laden with shame. I could see his brilliant green eyes in the near darkness. A couple tears trickled down his face.
“Then why?” I put my hands on my hips, waiting impatiently for yet another pre-programmed response.
“I have to protect you.” He sounded defeated.
“Whatever. I’m done, Henry. We’re done. I can’t handle the lies and the half-truths anymore. I deserve the truth, and I deserve the respect.” I pulled off my engagement ring and held it out to him.
“Elaina, no...” The tears rolled thick and heavy down his panic-stricken face. I played the stoic, scorned woman. It crushed me to tell him we were done and hand back the ring he worked so hard to buy me. I loved him so much, but I couldn’t allow myself to be lied to another day. He grabbed my arms.
“Henry, let go of me.”
“Elaina, please. Don’t do this. I can’t live without you. You are my everything.” I couldn’t look at him. I knew if I did, I would have fallen into him, bawling my eyes out. But I needed the truth.
“Henry, let go of me before I scream.” He dropped his hands to his side, taking the ring out of my hand. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, but the river of tears still flowed.
“I love you.” His voice shook with every word.
“I understand that. I love you, as well, but I can’t do this with you anymore unless you start being truthful.” I picked up the few things of Claire’s that I had already gathered. He stepped aside, and slid down the wall with his face buried in his hands. He sobbed in silence as I left the room. Claire was at the door.
“Get the rest of your stuff,” I ordered, as I stormed back into Henry’s bedroom. Sophie was still standing in there.
“Elaina. Let me try to explain…”
I put my hand up to cut her off. “The only explanation that I want to hear is the truth. I don’t want to hear another false explanation or half-truth. Now, get out!”
“Just…”
“No! Go before I do something I will regret.” Admittedly, she could snap my neck in a split second, but she should know better than to cross a woman scorned.
“Right,” she said with a chill in her voice, and she left the room. She met Claire just outside of the door. “Please talk some sense into her. He needs her.”
“I don’t blame her for being this angry,” Claire said. “If anyone deserves to know the truth about this situation, it’s her. After all, she would have been married to him by now.” Sophie sighed and went into Henry’s new room. She closed the door behind her.
I collapsed on the bed and sobbed into Henry’s pillow. Claire sat down next to me and rubbed my back.
“I gave him back the ring.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry, hon. I wish there was something I could do.”
“I told him I can’t carry on with him, knowing he was lying. He was bawling his eyes out, Claire. It cut me deeply to see him that way.”
“He loves you so much.”
“I need the truth.”
“I know. He does need to be honest with you.”
“I can’t believe it’s over...” Claire grabbed me and held me until my sobs quieted enough for me to breathe relatively normal.
While Claire held me, I flashed back to the first time we broke up. It was a killer, much like that day, but I was so much more devastated the second time around. I had more invested in Henry than before.
-February 2013-
We pulled up to my apartment building’s front entrance when we got home from Henry’s gym. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be doing that again. Between me not being in shape and some muscled woman trying to be all touchy feely with Henry, I wasn’t thrilled in the least. There was shit that she just had to tell me, all while wearing a nasty grin on her face.
He put the truck into park and turned to me. “Listen, I’ve got a bunch of work I have to get done so I probably won’t be coming back tonight.”
“What?”
“My boss has been pressing me for some reports, and I have been slacking some since I have been with you. He’s riding my ass hardcore.”
“Why can’t you bring your laptop here? Or you could even use mine.”
“Because you would distract me, my love.” He flashed his Prince Charming smile.
“Well, what about me coming to your place? I can hang out somewhere in your apartment while you work, and then we can be together afterwards.” Henry rubbed his face with his hands. He looked stressed.