The Husband's Story

t r u t h

When the early rays of the sun peak over the skyline, I know it is time for me to leave again. I hate to keep this secret from my family, but it is a curse that I cannot get rid of. My family will never see me the same if they knew what I become in the daylight. I always tell my wife that I will be back before dark after hunting. If only she knew the whole truth.
I have always treated her well, even before we were married. We met in the woods near Spring Lake, although I had only caught a field mouse. When I first saw her, I thought she was beautiful and I fell in love.
Never once would I put her or her sister in danger. Her trust and love makes me feel that I belong when others would not accept me. With my secret bloodline with my father, it will always be my downfall.
My people in our community would never understand what I am if I were to tell them. They never change how they think or feel. Right now they think of me as their own. We sing together, laugh together. I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt them in my other form. I am not like those other men with guns and kill everything they see.
I must keep my secret for as long as I possibly can. It is the only way that I may truly protect my wife and children. It is hard to keep the smell away. I know my wife can't stand it. No matter how much I try to hide it and wash it away, it doesn't matter. The stench sticks to my hair in thick layers.
My youngest is afraid of me, terrified. She notices everything with wandering little eyes. My eyes shift back from unusual blue to dark brown in the darkness that only she can see. I always tell my wife that she just woke up from a bad dream. When she is older, she will remember how I looked different. She will always know that I am not what I appear to be.
It is time that I go out again under the light. I glance over to my wife, not wanting to disturb our children. Outside under the rays, the transformation has already begun. Hair sheds from head to toe, with white flesh to be exposed. Fingers grow and legs extend. I can finally be free again.
A creak inside the house turns my attention to an opening. My wife still, unmoving. Her bright eyes fixed on mine for what feels like an eternity. Howels echo over the field.
"No!" I croak as shadows form in clusters.
I grab a broken branch beside me. Little eyes cluster behind my wife as she now stands in the doorway. My children cry of fear of what they do not know. The beasts come and I swing. Her sister runs fast over the hills and I dash for my life. The ones that I once called my friends now come for my blood. Jumping over everything in my way. In this form, I am not faster than them.
Her sister's yellow eyes gleam as she pounces on me. Her teeth dig deep into my neck, too fast that I can't let out a scream. My blood runs thick down my body. Pain then numbness flows through my veins. Familiar blurs of black and grey hover in my vision, soon to be gone.
Here in the last rays of the sun, my wife slowly crouches down. Fractions of rainbow light through the canopy smear across her face. Her beautiful eyes bore into mine for the last time. I will die here with you by my side. My love, I am sorry. I knew this day would come. My secret is finally out.
I am only human.