North Star

Chapter VIII

For so many people,they don't believe in arranged marriages. They think it is an absurd idea. To many articles ,marriages is good for one year the next years coming would be as hard as hell. Of course,I know that too. In this country,50% of the people treasured their marriage but some had divorced. I'm 35 years old. By now,normal man in this age has three year old son.  I want to treasure my marriage.
I got up early. She was still sleeping when I woke up. I transferred her to the bed and fix all the sheets and kept them in the cabinet. I did my morning activities before I headed to the kitchen.
"Good morning," I greeted her when I'm done doing all my routine. She's awake now.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah,"
I had my good night sleep last night. And that was new to me too.
" You should get ready, we'll be going to the hospital."
"No,I don't want to go there. I'm fine now."
"No,we need to go. Hurry,"
"Mattheo, please. I'm fine. I'll stay here today to take rest."
"Are you sure?"
"Hmm. Trust me okay?"
"If you still do that next month ,you better come with me."
"I promise."
I went out. Is she hiding something? I prepared the meal. I made toasted bread, fried an egg,bacon and sausage.
"Let me do that." She said. She's walking with her pajama set. Her hair is a little disheveled. I smiled.
"You look like a zombie." I ran my fingers to her hair. She looked at me.
"My hair smells bad."
I put my hands near my nose to smell her hair. It smells with fresh menthol just like mine. Did she use my shampoo?
"Yucks!"
I washed my hands in the faucet.
"Maybe you disinfect your hands too. There might be germs."
"Hey,I'm just kidding. Loosen up wife." I sat down on my favorite chair.
She made coffee for me.
"I'm having my lunch here."
"What? You travel from you company to here,just to have lunch. Are you serious? No,you'll get tired."
"Then are you gonna have lunch without me? Promise me first."
"I can't. Probably I'll be sleeping the whole day."
"Then I'll come home."
I got up and bid goodbye to her. I'll go work now since she's staying at home.
" Bring your phone wherever you go." I told her before I closed the door. I am still anxious what if something happened to her in my absence. Should I call my mom to take care of her? No,we can do this.
I started the car when I arrived in the parking lot. I checked my phone. I dialled her number. After two minutes ,she answered.
"I'm fine."
"Don't move around. You don't have to clean the room."
"Yeah. Take care."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."

I drove off and went to work. I arrived early.
My secretary was surprised when he saw me.
"Sir,I thought you will be absent thus morning. How was your wife?"
"She's fine. She doesn't like to go to the doctor this time. So I come here."
I started working. Sometimes I made a glance to my phone if she's sending me a message.
It's lunch time. I immediately went home. My mom's shoes was there.
" oh,Stephan ,you're here."
"Hello,mom. Why are you here,?"
"Finn is a little indisposed when I called her this morning. So I immediately came over since you are in the office. She told me you would come this afternoon. And I  am happy to see you here now. Are you here because of your wife?" She smiled at me.
"I had a meeting nearest here so I decided to come."
"Tsk,your excuses are not well-made,honey. You are worried because of her."
"Mommy "
We went inside. I saw her watching TV with pillows on the stomach.
"Hi."
"Oh,you're really here. "
Her face lightened when she saw me. Her clothes were already changed.
"Did you have lunch?"
"Not yet. I'm waiting for you."
That's good.
I went to the kitchen and I saw mom preparing the table.
"I told her to eat but she always said,she'll wait for you. If you didn't come,she might be sad."
I sat down.
"She's sick right?"
"Did she tell you?"
"No."
"Okay,her parents hide it from her. She's suffering, Stephan. If she would know, it might kill her. So please,let's make this as a secret between the two of us."
"What do you mean mom?"
"She has cancer. The doctor told her parents that she has two years to live. And to think that was long time ago---"
"Wait? Cancer? Cancer what?"
"She has cyst in the ovary and it made into a cancer cyst. There's no more surgery which could save her according to the doctor."
"Then we will let her die?"
"Her mom said that if she would find out her condition it will break her. She really wanted to become a doctor in linguistic. That's why,even if they wanted her to stay they agreed this set up."
"And that's why she's here."
"Yes,she has a year to have memories with you. She's heartbroken Stephan. Twice. Her sister told me that her first love was out of sight and only destiny will make them closer. She said,she found her looking at the sky every night waiting for a shooting star to appear to make a wish and their paths will cross again. Her second love married another girl.  She is broken now. So please let us help get to enjoy her remaining life."
"I don't want to hear that. Can we help her?"
"How? Surgery,? It's risky and complicated."
We saw her walking towards us. My mom sat on the chair I usually used.
"Let's eat Finn."
She sat beside me.
I gave her the rice. I was silent the whole meal. I don't want to say anything. If I do,I might burst into tears. She's my first love too. And she will die in front of me now? I'm going crazy this time.