Why I Love ~Sequel To Entwined~

Coming Home

Chapter Twelve

Coming Home

                              “Happy Anniversary,” Aria whispered to herself as she rolled over in the large empty bed. Two years. She and Adam had been married for two years, and in those two years the romance seemed to have moved out and found a new roommate, because there was no romance between Aria and Adam any longer.

It had begun a month after James’s funeral, when he started to work late and skip super. After that everything just went downhill; he was home less and less, he never touched or kissed her or made love. It was like living with a stranger.

She sighed and dragged herself out of bed and took a long hot shower, the water scalding her so her skin went red. She then ate a bowl of cereal and stared out the window. Her life was pathetic.

When the clock struck noon she dressed, put her coat on and left the apartment, heading to her old neighbourhood where she would finally be able to escape the demons invading her mind.

“Faythe my darling!” Tiger cried, wrapping her arms around Aria’s thin body “You’re slim as my wand for goodness sake! Come upstairs, I’ve got just what you need.” Aria just smiled and followed her old friend up the back stairs to the apartment above. Scooping Paisley up into her arms, she cuddled the calico cat she missed so.

“Is Paisley still sad?” she asked, burying her nose in the cat’s soft fur.

“She misses you,” Tiger said “But Panther helps her out I think. They stalk the customers like their life depends on it, sleeps and eats cat grass all day-what a life!” she busied herself with making tea while Aria curled up on the cushy sofa, Paisley purring contently in her arms. “So,” Tiger said, setting a plate of sugary treats on the coffee table along with the tea “It’s your anniversary, is it not?”

Aria nodded, her eyes far away as she gazed out the window “Two years.” She turned to Tiger “Two years with Adam…” but she didn’t say it with joy like most wives, she said it with a sigh as deep as the hurt she felt all those years ago when she heard James was dead.

“Faythe,” Tiger said, looking at her friend worriedly with caring eyes “Is everything…alright between you and Adam?”

Aria sighed “Right as any married couple I suppose; but I feel…trapped somehow, empty. He hasn’t kissed me in such a long time,” she lowered her eyes and stroked Paisley’s soft head “But I haven’t tried to kiss him either.”

“Do you still love him?” Tiger asked, cutting right to the point.

“I…” she started, thinking obviously she would say yes, but stopped. Did she love Adam as she had? Or had she ever really, truly loved him?

“Faythe?” Tiger asked “I’m sorry honey, but-but let me tell you a story, alright?”

She looked up, blonde hair covering her face like a curtain of gold, hazel eyes dead “Alright Tiger, as long as it doesn’t make me cry.”