Thirty Days Of September

chapter 3: The Cold Reality

The honeymoon phase was over, and as the newlyweds returned home, the warmth of fleeting romance quickly gave way to a harsh reality. The bright, sunlit days that had once sparkled with hope and promise now felt heavy with the weight of Atasha's unending responsibilities.

Atasha stood in the kitchen, her hands buried in soapy water as she washed the dishes from their first meal as a married couple. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the clinking of dishes and the faint sounds of Aaron laughing with his friends in the living room. He had barely acknowledged her presence since they returned home, and the feeling of neglect was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Aaron," Atasha called, trying to inject some cheerfulness into her voice. "Would you like to join me for dinner? I made your favorite."

No response.

She let out a shaky breath, attempting to push aside the hurt that threatened to overwhelm her. Atasha could hear the raucous laughter of Aaron and his friends, Atom, Billie, Duke, Wilson, and Mikko, as they shared jokes and drinks, seemingly enjoying life without a care in the world. It was a stark contrast to the solitude she felt in the kitchen.

Later that evening, while tidying up the living room, Atasha overheard snippets of conversation from the group.

"Can you believe it? Aaron actually went through with it," Mikko joked.

"Yeah, he's officially off the market. I wonder how long until he gets bored," Atom chimed in with a laugh.

Atasha's heart sank. Bored? The thought gnawed at her insides, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. It was as if they were all aware of the charade she and Aaron were performing, and it felt humiliating to be the butt of their jokes.

As the night wore on, Atasha finished cleaning and made her way to their bedroom, where she found Aaron sprawled on the bed, engrossed in his phone. He glanced up at her, but his eyes held no warmth.

"Did you finish everything?" he asked nonchalantly, returning to his screen.

"Yes, I—" Atasha started but faltered, feeling the sting of his indifference. "I thought we could talk about our plans for the week. Maybe we could do something together?"

"I'm busy," he replied, waving her off without looking up. "I have friends over."

Atasha's heart dropped, but she managed to muster a smile. "Okay. I'll let you get back to them."

As she turned to leave, she felt a small flicker of determination ignite within her. I can do this, she thought, willing herself to focus on the positives. Maybe if she took care of everything, he would eventually see her worth. After all, she hadlifetime chance to change his mind.

The following weeks turned into a blur of cleaning, cooking, and managing their home. Atasha found herself juggling the household chores and errands, all while enduring the emotional distance from Aaron. She hired a few local helpers to assist with cleaning and gardening, but he had shot down the idea, insisting they didn't need it.

"You're my wife. It's your job to take care of the home," he had said coldly when she suggested hiring help.

Atasha bit back the hurt and resentment, forcing herself to smile. "Of course, Aaron. I want to make this place a home for us."

Every morning, she would wake up early to prepare breakfast before he left for work, and every night she would wait for him to return, her heart racing with hope that he might actually notice her efforts. But as days turned into weeks, it became increasingly clear that Aaron was more interested in maintaining his relationship with Candice than in building a life with her.