Stay [h.s.] | short story

Chapter 3

Jasmin lied in the bath tub, looking at the bubbles that wrapped around her fingers.
Harry is in the bedroom, occupied by the action movie playing on the Television.
The sound of muffled fighting and shooting is heard from outside.
Jasmin hears his cellphone ring and the TV goes quiet, so does Harry.

She rose from the tub and trailed her wet body to the door, listening closely.
"Why are you calling me?" Harry said quietly. "My wife is home."

His wife.
She hasn't heard him call her that in a while.
Not that there was any necessary situation.
This was the first time the girl that Harry had his little rendezvous with, call him, mid-day.

"I'll see you later," Harry said before hanging up.
Jasmin closed her eyes and her chest aches again.

Jasmin settles herself and wraps a fresh-new towel around her body,
a body that hasn't been touched the way she wanted it to be touched,
a body that shared its lover, to another.

"Who was that?" Jasmin asked, still forcing that smile of hers. Her lips almost quiver, trying not to hide that she shows an artificial smile.

"Work," he lied and she nods, dressing in front of him.

Prior to three months ago, everything was perfect.
He was perfect, to her.
She still doesn't know what's wrong with her.
I'm not pretty enough, she'd think to herself. Maybe I don't love him enough.

So many doubts fill her head and she wants nothing but that life they had —three months ago — back.
If he didn't want her as much as before, why couldn't he just up and leave?
Elope with the woman he shared his early mornings with.

One day, she'll have enough
and leave him herself.
She can't  imagine herself leaving him, though.
The love she has for him is too big.
Too big.
Too full.

but not enough.