The Disastrous Union

2

I get into my car and stare at the hospital one last time.

I was officially a medical doctor but it was not easy.

Studying from the age of 11 till 23 was not enjoyable. Neither was joining the army immediately after.

I had no childhood, no nurture, no free time and certainly no family or friends.

Louana had been breathing down my back while I studied but I didn't mind.

At least there was someone who was looking out for me.

I thought that maybe I'd make some friends now that I didn't have my parents to control me and my actions but I realised quick that people in hospitals can tell when a person is young and being a 19 year old resident made me a walking target for the occasional poke of fun.

It's a miracle that I didn't lose my temper as I was so good at that. I knew that I couldn't be such an angry person if I wanted to work with people who were dealing with loss so I worked on it.

I pull up to the house and take my stuff in.

My whole life still fit into two suitcases and a dusty, old duffel bag even all those years later.

I drag my stuff to my room and get an outfit and go to the shower and get into my pyjamas, I had a long drive and needed to relax.

I open up the gift Martine, my mentor, gave me and laugh when I see the wine. I hadn't opened since I got it, which was three years ago.

I get the class that she put in with it and read the note.

"I know you are meticulate about your finances so I figured you wouldn't even buy yourself a wine glass, so here is some wine and some wine glasses and this time don't pay me back." Everytime she gave me a drink, I would pay her back.

I guess I did have one other friend in the end. It was a shame she wasn't with me anymore.

I pour some of the wine and watch TV as I drink it.

I had finally made my own money and told Louana that I was fine without her financial aid.

She said that I could ask at any time if I did need help. I think she had rubbed off on me now. She was a saint to me, one of the only women to be a rock in my life.

I remeber that she said that she left something for me in his office.

I see a package with my name on it and open to see some perfume.

I love it.

I'm about to leave when I see a folder that catches my eye.

It says wedding and it's in his parents cabinet, not Rio's.

I open it and read through the folder.

It was the contract that we signed when we married and I see mine and read it all over again. I didn't miss anything.

I see another and it says Orion Lux on it. Formal. It's a contract, for him.

I read it.

It states that he is not to cheat me or he will have to pay me $1000 dollars into my personal account for each time he even kissed let alone had sex with another woman.

I now realise why he kept sending me money.

It also states that I own the house too, which I knew and a bunch of other stuff like how I have full autonomy over what goes on in the house.

There's one more file and when I read it I feel my heart crumble.

It was my parents who had signed off saying that I can marry Rio when I turn 18.

I knew that even if Louana had asked me and I'd refused, I'd have been cooerced into it somehow.

I knew my parents had simply dissapeared.

I knew my parents weren't dead.

I knew that's why I couldn't get custody of my siblings. They knew they'd be gone and they told them that I couldn't have them.

That's why they left after I turned 18 so I couldn't get adopted like the rest of them.

It was all here in this very simple document.

That's why I was a Mistry and they weren't.

I knew they had me early and they struggled when they had me but nothing like this. This was just crazily heartbreaking.

I photocopy everything and put the folder back.

I put the copies in a folder I have from school and put it on a shelf.

I was distraught at this information but I couldn't let it affect me.

I now knew that Louana was definitely trying to save me.

I go back to the living room and sip on my wine.

I watch TV when someone come bursting through the door and I know what's happening. Rio and someone are doing that typical TV trope where they burst through the door kissing.

They make their way to the living room and the girl screams when she sees me.

"Well. What a lovely welcome home gift Orion. You, get out of my house." I say to the girl.

"Who are you?" She asks.

I show her my hand.

"I'm his wife. The real question is, who are you?" She looks at him in disbelief.

"Unbelievable." She picks up her coat and leaves the house.

"What was that about?" He says.

"Well, I make the rules in this house now that I'm back. I'm expecting the money in my bank account by the end of today." I say and he throws me a look. "Let's be clear, you won't be fucking anyone in here and if you do, do it somewhere else and don't try to shorthand me of money. A girl always knows." I say and his scowl deepens.

I finish my wine and go to my room after washing my glass.

I put it away and get into bed. I had work tomorrow and I would be working with a new MI. I didn't want to but I had to.