Solitude

Two

He was cold and distant, Margaret noticed.
The ceremony was very formal with a heavy atmosphere among the people.
The preacher finished the service, blessed the young couple and they sealed their unity with a quick and stiff kiss.

During the wedding he ignored her completely and kept his distance.
At first it saddened her but dismissed it afterwards and went along to introduce herself to her new-bound family.

Mr and Mrs Willis James Edwards was gentle by nature and greatly kind to her. This eased her growing fears.

Margaret had to compose herself, this was her destiny.
It would surely demand patience. She was prepared to give Vincent the necessary kindness and respect he deserved. She loved him undoubtedly. 

****

That late evening, after everyone bid farewell to the newly-weds, Vincent knew there was no more chances left to avoid this any longer.

There was no turning back now.

The first time he caught sight of Margaret walking in the church, he didn't have any thoughts whatsoever.

Vincent didn't even bother to try and observe her reaction. He already made his conclusion long before of her: A little gold digger with a pretty face, who only pledged herself in order to gain a quality life.

Why else would she?

The carriage came to a halt and Vincent became aware of his surroundings. Margaret stood beside him smiling gently, returning her farewell to the attendants.

What had he gotten himself into?
He shouldn't have gone through with this.
He should have escaped the first moment a word of the arranged marriage had been mentioned.

Though when Vincent thought this, guilt pressured against his chest.
He couldn't abandon his family.
They depended on him. With a heavy sigh Vincent composed himself, coming to the decision he would have to accept this eventually.

He joined Margaret by bidding farewell. Margaret's stomach fluttered when they entered the carriage and she and Vincent sat together their shoulders touching.

He was so beautiful.

None of them spoke a word. The journey towards their new life began with a heavy silence.

After moments that felt like hours, the carriage came to a halt. It stopped before a steady and well-built house.

Margaret nervously evened out the faint wrinkles on her dress.

Awaiting civilaty Margaret expected Vincent to open the carriage door for her but to her disappointment, he walked on past her and the carriage towards the house.
The poor young woman had to manage on her own carrying her heavy properties herself.

Though she did so with a smile.
A silly little task like that didn't trouble her.
Putting down the heavy loading, Margaret stood beside Vincent.

She cautiously looked over at him.
His face was as hard as stone.
Everlasting indifference that terrified her.

*****

Months passed by with the momentum of a ship on sea.
Nothing changed.
Every day was exactly the same as the day before.
Half past four every morning Margaret would be up busy in the kitchen, preparing the bread and brewing the coffee.
Somedays this was done for naught.

Vincent wouldn't eat and would leave without any further conversation.
Margaret became a non-living object he simply ignored.
Times like that often became difficult to endure.
As soon as Vincent was gone, Margaret would stop eating and just sit there with her head in her hands and cry.
She tried with all her power to show him she loved him.
If only he would give her a fraction of his attention and allow her to care for him.
Margaret gently wiped her tears with the white handkerchief and prayed desperately.
"Oh please, Lord! Open his eyes! Soften his stone-cold heart!" She pleaded a sudden cough leaving her throat.

********

Vincent awoke abruptly to the sound of shuffling coals.
As soon as his mind acknowledged and recognized the familiar sound, a sigh of pure frustration escaped his lips.

What was she doing now?
He got up and dressed himself unwillingly, leaving the 'supposed guest room' towards the washroom.
His wife's bedroom was at the other end of the house.

Vincent didn't understand this woman's actions. Everyday it was like this.
Every morning she would be there, breakfast ready and this silly little smile she would wear. Then the late afternoons would come and she would be there once more, having cleaned the entire house and have dinner ready, asking her silly questions about his day.
Why does she even bother to ask?
She doesn't care, she doesn't have to be pretentious. It's been a lifetime already when will her true colors reveal itself?

She will give up eventually.
Vincent left the washroom and with no other alternative, entered the kitchen and saw the thin pale lady standing there with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, smiling.
"Morning Vincent dear, I hope you rested well. I warmed up the coffee over the stove a bit longer, it's quite cold this morning." She came closer and with a gentle lift of the hand, touched his face.

He tensed.

"You are very cold. You should take an ekstra coat before you leave." Margaret held the wool garment out to him.
Vincent just stared at it.

Glaring from it, back to her he turned around and left her once more in complete solitude.