Stranger to Me

~Seventeen~

Gilda's P.O.V.

*Flashback*

 

I rang my bell, waiting for Albin to come down and open the door. I rang once more, and there was still no Albin. Sighing, I pulled my key out of my purse and opened the door myself.

"Albin!" I called. My voice rang out through the house, but there was no voice ringing back.

Maybe he's taking a bath, I thought to myself. After all, today was our anniversary and we were going out. I had just come home from a visit to Doris' house, which I had cut short because of the occasion.

I walked into the kitchen to find  note from Albin on the counter.

Gone to golf with Steve

Will be back soon

I gritted my teeth and put down the note. Anger surged through my veins at my husband. Here I was, ready for our wedding anniversary, and he was out golfing. We had planned out a nice evening and everything, and I was so excited for it. Did it mean nothing to him that we had gotten married on this very day 35 years ago?

Angrily, I sat down in my chair and pulled out a book. Usually, I drank tea with it. But I was too mad to make tea. I sat there and read for what felt like days.

Then I heard a knock at the door. I stomped towards the door to find Albin standing there smiling as if nothing was wrong.

He pulled me into a hug but I shoved him away.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong! Today is our wedding anniversary!"

"I know," he said, smoothly.

"And? You don't care?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then why the heck would you go golfing? Weren't we going to go out? Don't lie to me, Albin, you couldn't have cared less about this, I know."

"Listen to me, Gilda," he said, grabbing my shoulders.

"No!" I screeched."Do you know how long I was waiting for you to come home? I thought you actually cared. And don't try to tell me that Steve needed moral support or something, because I'm your wife for crying out loud, and look at me right now? Didn't it occur to you that I would have been hurt by you going off with Steve when I was waiting for you? Didn't it matter to you at all?"

 I ran up the stairs without giving him a chance to speak.

"Gilda!" he called after me. I ignored him. I stormed into the last room, the one with all the storage. I slammed the door. Downstairs, I could hear the front door slamming as well. I sat down and cried. I picked up the nearest box and opened it to find a bunch of books. Angrily, I threw it across the room, all the books in it flying out of it. The rest of the boxes ended the same way - flung across the room and emptied. The room was a even more messy than it was before, but I didn't care.

Suddenly I came across a small spider crawling on the wall next to me. I'd had arachnophobia for as long as I can remember. I screeched and ran down stairs again.

I flung myself into my chair and cried until my face was soaked and puffy. It felt like my life was terrible. I hated that I loved Albin so much but even after all these years it felt like he didn't love me anymore. He didn't use to be like this - he used to be so loving and romantic. I miss those years. My tears refused to cease, even after I heard the phone ring. But I did nothing. I was not in the mood to talk to Doris, and it was probably her. Heaven knows why she called anyways, since I specifically told her I would be going out tonight. Then again, I suppose not. I continued to cry stormily, and gave little other care, until the phone rang again. I stomped over to the phone and picked it up.