A Rose Among Thorns

Dinner

I ran around the kitchen, gathering ingredients frantically from the wooden cabinets.

My Husband would be coming home in half an hour and I haven't even started on dinner.

When Ralph comes home from a long day at work he's going to want his dinner on the table waiting for him. That's just common sense. All those meetings make you hungry. He's made that clear many times before.

I would have been able to start cooking on time if Aunt Claire hadn't called. Ugh, that was meant to be a quick chat but Claire always finds something to complain about. Wheather it's in my life or in hers.

Seriously who calls their niece just to lecture them and then takes an hour to say goodbye?

"If that woman has anything it's the audacity," I grumble to myself, taking out a chopping board and placing it on the marble island before turning the stove on.

I rushed through preparing the ingredients and when everything was simmering on the stove I took a deep breath.

Maybe I'll have enough time after all and I won't have to stress. I thought while checking my watch.

It was 7.00. Ralph comes home at 7.15

Well never mind I do have to stress. 15 minutes is not enough time for this to cook.

I turn to go and set the table rushing into the dining room and frantically grabbing everything I need, dropping the cutlery at least twice.

Turning on my heel I scamper back into the kitchen where the pan on the stove is sizzling. I can barely hear it over my racing thoughts.

'Plates, I need plates,'

I fling open the cabinet to the right of the stove. Having to duck under the door as it comes flying back towards my head before grabbing out two plates and placing them on the island behind me.

Everything is ready except for the food. Checking my watch again I see it's 7.13.

'Oh god he's going to be home anytime now'

Staring at the food on the stove I consider taking it of early but end up deciding on waiting a couple more minutes.

Something buzzes in my pocket and it takes me a good 10 seconds to register that it was my phone as I jolt back to life to grab it.

'Ralph messaged me? Hm,' At that moment my mind wanders to the worst possible scenario

'Your not good enough, let's get divorced'

'I forgot my keys and have been standing outside in the cold for 10 minutes knocking how can you not hear me?'

But no, what the message actually said was 'I have a late night shift and will be coming home late.'

I furrow my eyebrows in annoyance. just as I had finished cooking dinner ready for Ralph to be home. really? Not even a 'sorry'. tch. all that stress for nothing.

I place Ralph's portion on the table and leave a sticky note saying

'Enjoy x'

Tucking into my own dinner I'm left with my own thoughts. Sitting in dead silence really gets you to reflect.

An uneasiness settles in my stomach. All of a sudden I have no appetite.

I should be happy. No. I am happy. Right? My Husband is out there trying his hardest to provide for the both of us. I shouldn't have doubts about him.

I feel sick. My body feels heavy and I can't stop my mind from racing.

I need something to soothe my nerves. Hmm, how about a cold shower? Sounds good.

I place my plate into the dishwasher and plod up the stairs and into the tiled bathroom. Quickly turning on the tap and splashing cold water over my face.

Stepping into the cool stream on water I close the shower door me, feeling my nerves calm down almost instantly.

Cold showers always calm me down. There just really relaxing.

Feeling nice and refreshed I step out of the shower, slipping into my silk pyjamas. These are the ones that Ralph got for my birthday. There also my favourite.

The weight in my stomach still hasn't lifted. The only other thing to do is sleep.

Plodding into the bedroom, I look around remembering the first day Ralph and I moved in.

Back then Ralph was a sweet guy, a gentleman. I truly thought I was the luckiest girl in the world.

However, ever since then, Ralph has become obsessed with his work. Making everything about money and not ever letting go and having fun. He was so uptight all the time.

Since he had long hours at work. He would always come home late. Which was understandable. He was a hard-working guy. What wasn't understandable was how he had become extremely irritable.

It was like the real Ralph had died and been replaced with a completely different person.

Sighing, I glance at my reflection in the mirror across from the bed. My eyes skim over my defined features that I was so used to. My eyes that would usualy glow an emerald green looked dull and dusky. My skin no longer glowed as it had in the past and my hair cascaded over my shoulders, still wet from the shower.

Ive always hated my hair. Its thick and hard to manage. When I was a child I would always wish to have thin hair.

Right now I look like a mess. Unlike the rest of the house that I made sure to keep organised and tidy, not letting even a spec of dust be seen, I look like a trainwreck.

Chuckling to myself, I climb under the covers. My eyes suddenly feel heavy as I drift off into a deep sleep.

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A/N

I don't know how to cook so I never actually said what she was cooking. Ig you can choose.

975 words