She Finally Starts To Listen To Me

My fiancée never seemed to catch my words, yet she responded flawlessly to my best friend’s slightest cues. She blamed poor hearing, insisting people stand close and speak up. But with Will, she never asked for repeats. Two taps on the table and she slid him coffee. A glance at the window and she rose to shut it. Yet when I sat beside her and called her name twice, she turned blankly. Did you say something? Speak up, I can’t hear you. I swallowed hard, telling myself she was worn out from wedding plans.

That illusion shattered during our photoshoot, when Jenny pulled Will into the frame. Let’s get one of the three of us, she said. Rare we’re all dressed like this. After the shutter clicked, the photographer handed me the preview. In the shot, Jenny’s right hand hung loose, her pinky hooked around Will’s. The smile she gave the camera was relaxed, effortless—nothing like the strained look I’d seen for three years.

I lowered my bouquet slowly. Watching her gesture softly to Will a few feet away, I stayed silent. There was no point. She wouldn’t hear me.