Divine Affinity

35

Due to the jetlag and tiredness of the flight, Eiry was exhausted just as the day was getting darker outside. In their bedroom, when she went to close the blinders, Eiry looked at the gray view acknowledging she missed home. She had travelled so much in the past two months and yet she had barely met any of the cities she had been to. Either way, Seattle was special. The way the concrete jungle mixed with the verdant mountains and lakes and sea was stunning. None of the cities had given her that view and they didn't live somewhere fancy. To the east she could see the majestic Cascade Mountains stand tall and proud, their peaks often adorned with a dusting of snow. If she turned her gaze towards downtown, she was greeted by a sea of towering skyscrapers. The Space Needle standing prominently amidst the urban jungle, its futuristic design serving as a constant reminder of the city's innovative spirit. Then, far away and contrasting with all, Elliott Bay stretched out before her to the west. Its shimmering waters reflect the ever-changing sky above and was dotted with sailboats gracefully gliding along its surface. On clear days, she could even spot ferries making their way to nearby islands. A mix of relief and sadness embraced her. Relief because she was back to her daily life and sadness because of how it happened. Eiry took a deep breath thinking about Eddie's last message and stepped away from the window, closing the blinders right after. The room became dim lighted by the lamp on her night stand. Her deformed shadow moved on the wall as she approached her side of the bed. Eiry sat on it and then pulled her feet up, adjusting the pillow under her head. She stretched her arm and turned out the light and pulled the covers up until her waist. As she closed her eyes, she felt all the exhaustion taking its toll on her and easily, despite all her preoccupations, she fell asleep before eight in the evening.

It was not a resting sleep though. As she drifted into a deep sleep, her mind began to wander through dreams and memories. Eiry tossed and turned reviving Eddie's incoherent messages. Her mind pictured him telling her to come home a thousand times. In the middle of all the dreams, Eiry started hearing a piercing sound. It took her a while to understand what was happening because she was too tired and confused. Her heart raced as she struggled to comprehend the source of the noise. Was it just her imagination playing tricks on her? Her eyebrows furrowed a little as she turned on her back. Slowly her eyes began to open as the sound was incessant. She fought a little with her grogginess to understand what was really happening. Her alarm clock flashed 4.30 am and that's when the sound became clear. The phone was ringing. Her mind raced with thoughts of what could possibly warrant such an untimely interruption. That's when she pulled the covers away and jumped out of the bed, running towards the incessantly ringing phone. The receiver was near the door, but the wireless phone was on the couch, she had left it there when she decided she wasn't going to call him until later in London and went to bed. Her heart pounded with anticipation when she brought the receiver to her ear.

"Hello?" She mumbled hesitantly into the phone still trying to shake off sleep's heavy grasp. Her eyes blinking as she tried to adapt to the light in the living room. "Hello?" Eiry said again.

"Eiry?" She heard his voice, and tears came to her eyes. "Love?"

"Ed?" She sniffed. Right away, her head started figuring out the time in London. 12.30 pm there. His voice sounded heavy, groggy too and his nose was blocked.

"I'm so sorry... I just want to tell you I am so sorry." Eddie sat on the bed that was still warm. He had just woken up, but it seemed like he didn't sleep at all. His head was pounding too much.

"I was sleeping..." Eiry breathed, sitting on the couch. "You told me you want the divorce..." Her voice choke there and her lips trembled. Her heart raced. Little tremors ripped through her entire body.

All she heard was heavy silence on the other end. Eddie frowned all alone. His heart started racing and his mind was searching for the information she was giving him.