Eternal Vows : A Love Beyond Life

ONE - SHOT STORY

❝ Dahlia，❞ I whispered as I caught sight of my spouse at a private club.

Dahlia and I have been in a relationship for 16 years，with 6 years of marriage.

I must acknowledge that our marriage is faltering，but I still love Dahlia.

❝ Bro，are we continuing? ❞ Leo，my friend since college，inquired.

Unbeknownst to me，I had let go of the tumbler I was holding，only realizing when Leo handed it back to me.

❝ We will continue，❞ I finally said before heading inside.

I ordered multiple bottles of alcohol，and from a distance，I could see Dahlia laughing with a man I didn’t recognize.

I couldn’t contain my tears，I wanted to hold them back，but it was challenging，especially with alcohol in my system.

By 11 o’clock in the evening，I decided to head home.

❝ It hurts，❞ I whispered as I drove back.

I arrived promptly，but Dahlia was still not there.

I waited for her.

Quietly，I sat on the couch in the living room，waiting.

It was already two in the morning，and Dahlia had not returned.

I was suddenly jolted awake by a dream I had，realizing it was already morning.

Was that a dream?

❝ It’s good that you’re awake，Rowan. I’ve prepared breakfast，it is not obligatory for you to eat，❞ she mentioned as she ascended upstairs.

I followed her，embracing her tightly.

❝ I can’t bear to lose you，Dahlia，❞

She didn’t remove my hands from her body，but after a few minutes of the embrace，she gently loosened my grip and headed upstairs.

—

❝ Dahlia? ❞ I inquired with the crew at Dahlia’s coffee shop.

❝ She is not here，sir. Is there a reason you’re asking? ❞ the crew member inquired back.

❝ There is no particular reason，just checking on her. Do you think she needs to come back here? ❞ I questioned once more.

❝ I am not sure，sir. Normally，Mrs. Dahlia doesn’t return here after finishing her workloads. Perhaps you could try texting her，❞ she suggested.

❝ Thanks，❞ I responded before departing from the shop.

I messaged her.

Wife

Dahlia，where are you?

It took a few minutes before she replied.

[ With my friends. ]
[ Why? Do you need something? ]

Dahlia ... I think we need to talk.

[ That is not what we need，Rowan. ]

We really need to.

[ I won’t speak to you，Rowan，unless it’s about our annulment. ]

Look，I do not agree with ANNULMENT. You must know how significant our marriage is to me.

[ Rowan，we are not happy. Our relationship is not working. ]

I will do everything to make things right，Dahlia. I promise you.