"The Husband I Never Knew I Had..."

"Agony..."

"You cannot do this!"

"And why not?"

"Well, because... you don't know what will happen if you do."

"But that's exactly why I need to do it! To find out."

"What if you get hurt in the process. I'm just looking out for you."

"I'm all grown up Dad, I'm not the same little kid who ran to you crying because of a scraped knee."

"Cassie... you're never too old to come crying to me, son."

"Daddy, I know that. It's just... I can't keep living a lie. I want it all... not just the make believe world I created with Adonis. I want reality!"

"It's one thing when he didn't have his memory, but now that he does, he can turn you down. Marriage is a big decision son, he might not be ready for it."

"What do you mean? He practically calls me his hubby."

"I don't know Cas, why can't you just leave things as they are."

"Because I want to be certain. I want stability. I want the truth."

Just then Adonis arrived with grocery bags on both of his muscular arms that were filled to the brim, and greets me with his usual infectious smile.

"Hey, goodmorning hubby. Hi Dad. I just dropped by to bring you guys some needed stuff."

He proceeded to place the paper bags on the little dining table at the center of our small kitchen before kissing me on the lips.

"I missed you. When are you coming home?" He whispered while hugging me.

"That's not my house. It's not my place."

"What are you talking about? You're my husband. What's mine is yours."

"Well, not exactly."

"I don't understand."

"We can't go on like this Adonis."

"Like what?"

"Pretending." He was quiet for far too longer than I wanted him to be, so I followed up with an explanation. "What we have is make believe. Don't you want to turn it into reality?"

"Wait. Cassie, are you unhappy with what we have?"

"No. No. Just, wanting more." He looked frightened as he looked at my Dad, practically asking for help with his eyes.

"Cassie..."

"What's wrong? Don't you want to tie yourself to me for the rest of your life? Is that what this is all about? You... not wanting to be tied down? Am I not enough? Do you still wake up wanting someone else, wanting something more, wanting your freedom?"

"You don't understand."

"Then make me!"

"I don't want to marry you!" And just like that, the house was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

My chest felt heavy, my eyes started stinging, and my body felt cold.

"I see."

"No you don't. I'm not saying I won't marry you... just not now. Ok? I have so many things I need to attend to. I need my life in order before..."

"Take your time. Take all the time you need. And while you're at it... take your freedom back. Cause from this day forth... you no longer need to pretend to love me."

"Cassie..."

"I have to go." I couldn't breathe my Dad tried to hold me in a hug, but I wiggled out of his reach. Taking hurried steps I grasped the doorknob, and turned it slowly.

"Take all the time to live happily on your own... because from this day forth, you no longer have me to think about. We're done. We're finished. We're no longer... husbands." And I closed the door behind me, walking away from the man I loved for the second time since I met him.

The only difference was, this time... it was forever.