Tale of a worn-out marriage

Only Chapter

Sorry, english is not my first language, so, please, ignore the spelings and grammar mistakes.

Day 1 (and only because I was too distracted to continue): Infidelity (emotional)

One-sided Theodore "Laurie" Laurence/Amy March

A translation (better than the automatic translator —I hope—)

Jo married Laurie in a small, intimate wedding at the foot of the Laurence's garden. They had finally made sense and decided to give a chance to the rusty love they had for each other that cooled with time, space and distance.

The event was attended by her parents, Laurie's grandfather and Meg's family. Amy was out of the country and Aunt March was undergoing an uncomfortable recovery from her illness in the warm climate of France, probably finding a husband for her sister now that she had the opportunity to make another union of value.

Anyway, it was a subdued party. There were too many things unsaid in the condensed atmosphere of nearby people; she could see the disapproval in her mother's eyes every time they made eye contact; a feeling that she could not interpret in James Laurence's gestures and expressions towards Laurie. Meg was gentle, but she had never been a good liar and she could feel her surprise at the haste of her marriage for miles.

They drank champagne and tea until their need for normalcy was satiated, until the edges of their minds were blurred and everything became lively and fun. Laurie was the worst, blushing and wistful while no one seemed to notice his sadness, sitting at the head of the table with his hand under Jo's, but his mind elsewhere.

Getting together was what he had always wanted, the eventuality that everyone knew they would reach, their destiny despite their strong personalities clashing with each other. Why did it feel like a mistake?

Everyone drowned their thoughts in their drinks and the sweet, pretentious two-tier cake and white frosting.

The party ended quickly. Meg was the first to leave hand in hand with John and Demi, giving them her congratulations and a smile too perfect to be completely genuine. Marmee and Robert were next, and Grandpa Laurence only waved before heading to his room under the pretence of being too old for the holidays.

Their marriage, lifeless and misguided, began.

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She had a hard time adjusting to her new life. It was difficult for her mind to assimilate that Beth was no longer there, that Amy lived on the other side of the world, that she had gotten married.

It was difficult to find positive things and a routine when she knew she had done things on impulse and not because she really wanted to. However, she couldn't do much anymore, it was Jo Laurence now and she had to get used to it.

She never could, not completely because Jo always knew she didn't want to be a wife, but she already was, she was Laurie's wife, her best friend; He deserved to at least try no matter how little he was home, how little time they spent together, how different their routines were, how far apart they felt despite sharing a bed, breakfasts and the last name.

She tried, she really tried, but it wasn't in her nature to be demure, to have that submission and serve. She was wild, stubborn and spontaneous, she wasn't lady material, not like Meg, her mother or even Amy was and she got the hang of it.

She had always feared getting married because of the standards towards wives, she knew that even men as flexible as Laurie would have requests and the right to expect a homelier role from her, she knew that if she married someone, that person would expect her to give up her writing or her strong ideals, her independence. Laurie wasn't asking for anything from her, they barely talked and as he got up from the dining room and went into his office, Jo realized that this was worse, because it was a sign of disinterest. Her greatest fear came true, they had made the worst mistake.