Short stories

Do you love me

He sat down on the sofa, a photo album in hand and a brown envelope in the other. Outside, the sun was setting slowly, leaving the shadows of the night out. He didn't light up the house. He didn't want to, his mind wandering everywhere. But there was one thing that held his attention: his wife. She wasn't home yet, but she was unemployed. She had lost her job a few months earlier. She went out almost every day. She always seemed to have a thousand of things to do outside the house. But he didn't understand why she was never there. She didn't explain anything, not even she was going or when she would return. He became slightly paranoid.

He eventually hired a private detective. This guy followed his wife across the city. What he saw froze his blood. His wife was cheating on him. The news had the same effect as a stab in the heart. The detective had even showed him the pictures to prove the infidelity of his wife. He threw a glance at them and felt sick. He couldn't believe his loving wife was cheating on him with another man.

He suddenly looked up. He just heard a car stopping on the driveway of their house. He knew it was her. His heart began to beat faster in his chest. A door opened and closed. Footsteps up the aisle to the main door of the house. Key inside the lock. The door opened and a woman in her early forties with short brown hair entered. Looking into her purse, she put her key ring inside with a sigh of satisfaction. She smiled stupidly, head full of images. With her fingertips, she touched her lips, heightening her smile. She came into the living room and gasped at the sight of her husband on the sofa.

"Robert!" she cried, putting a hand to her chest, "you scared the shit out of me! I didn't know you'd be home."

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Very successful, but I'm very tired. Why didn't you turn on the light?"

"A surprise."

She frowned, going around the room to light up some lamps. He put the brown envelope on the coffee table. His wife turned to him, wanting to know what he had in mind. She asked him if he had spent a great day. He sighed deeply, relying on his knees, fingers crossed before him. He replied a gloomily no. She raised her eyebrows, surprised by his response.

"What has happened? You had bad news?"

He nodded. She fell on the sofa beside him, waiting for the rest of his story. With a nod, he pointed the envelope enthroned on the coffee table. She sighed before asking what was inside. He contented himself by saying she only had to open it if she wanted to know. She grabbed the envelope and raised the lab to take a look inside. She was unable to see what it contained.

"What is it? Did you look at it?"

"Open it."

He shrugged without answering him. She watched the envelope in all possible angles, seeking to know its contents without opening it.

"Where did you spend your day?" he asked, a dull voice.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just answer the question, Doris."

She heaved a deep sigh, looking up at the ceiling.

"I... I was with Francine and Janine. Any other questions?"

He shook his head.

"No, you were not with her. I called in Francine and she told me she hadn't seen you for about a month."

"You... you're spying on me!?!"

"Yes."

She suddenly stood up, shocked expression on her face. She was furious, telling her that he had no reason to act this way. The envelope still in her hand, she yelled at him that he had no right so spy on him. He merely raised his eyes to her and listened.