My Wife, My Man?

Chapter Thirty-eight

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is love." Sophocles

Perli hushed him, allowing the slow movement of her hand on his back to comfort him.

Her mind failed to understand a thing. However, her heart, which did, left her feeling what he felt. She wanted to cry. Seeing him in such a state took her off guard and, although he was yet to say a thing, his eyes said it all.

Heartache was a song left on repeat.

Bitterness was an old, too-familiar friend.

Anger was the poison he drank, hoping the other person would die.

And sadness — oh, sweet old sadness, was the drug that put him to sleep.

It was rather strange how as she waited for him to arrive with their tea; she became overwhelmed with sudden uneasiness. She couldn't comprehend the unexpected emotion that arose in her until she had seen him. How was it possible that she felt something was wrong with him? Were their hearts connected?

She rejected the possibility, choosing not to drive herself down a road of emotions she was too fearful to experience. He needed her right now and that was all that mattered. Hence, she continued to caress him, portraying an understanding of what he felt. The pain in his eyes was raw. It was the type that arose from the experience of loss; the pain of losing a beloved.

She blinked away tears building on her eyelids and stared at him. "You loved them very much, didn't you?" Her question made him stop sniffing for a second.

Jack's muscles stiffened as his mind spun out of control. So many questions ran through his mind, but even through that, he didn't lift his eyes to her. He only continued staring at the floor.

So, she continued, "Lucas and Emma? Your parents? You loved them."

This time, Jack reacted by nuzzling himself away from her. He searched her eyes for some sort of explanation. Opening his mouth to speak produced a quaky voice, "How-how did you—"

"I found a photo album in the storeroom..." She downcast her eyes. "I'm sorry."

The imagery of all that she had seen played in her mind. The joy in his little face was indescribable as a couple, both with dark hair, cuddled him happily in their arms. She had noted the beauty of his father's eyes, a crystal shade of blue, that complemented the light tone of his fair skin. His mother had the most beautiful smile. She was gifted with looks that were sure to leave any man head over heels for her.

Perli had sat there for hours, unable to stop herself from going through the countless photos of Jack's childhood. There was so much joy on his face. It was the type that came from being loved dearly. But she had never seen that same smile on his face. He didn't have it anymore. Somehow, throughout his lifetime, something had taken that away. She had noted that even through his pictures.

What had happened to him? What had wiped off the joy from his face?

Then the pictures had stopped, and all that was left were blank album pages to an unknown story. Her mind could only fill itself with unanswerable questions. Maybe the answers were in the letters she found, too. To Benjamin, the covers read. Benjamin? Was that his other name?

"I didn't mean to be so nosey." She fidgeted with her top. "I stumbled upon it there last week while looking for... I don't quite remember what I was looking for, but I found it, along with your mom's letters and the..." She met his eyes, just to see them almost drowning in tears.