Anger.
All she made me feel was anger.
The second i stepped foot out of the car, she started up.
She's done exactly as I assumed she would.
Throw this all back onto me.
Somehow she's made my unhappiness my own fault.
It's my fault this marriage is so terrible.
It's my fault I don't love her as much as she loves me.
It's my fault my entire world is crumbling right before me.
I need therapy she tells me, like I don't already know.
Marriage counselling now? No thank you.
I'll pass on that one.
I look passed her and see my favourite little person hiding behind the wall with a scared look on her face.
Instantly I feel my heart shatter.
She doesn't deserve to listen to her parents fight and argue about a divorce at such a young age.
She should be able to sit upstairs in her room, having tea party's with her stuffed animals while she waits for her bedtime stories.
She should be jumping around from furniture piece to furniture piece pretending the entire floor is boiling hot lava about to swallow everything it touches.
But instead, she's hiding behind a wall, trembling whilst listening to the shit show she'll have to call a mother yell at me for something I want.
I try to push passed the angry woman in front of me.
And that's when she does it.
A loud slap noise echoes through the house as all yelling comes to a complete stop.
A harsh sting spreads across the left side of my face and i raise my hand to hold. my cheek, staring at her absolutely speechless.
She hit me.
I look over to where Harper once was and see she's no longer there.
I ignore her frantic apologies as I search around to find where Harper had run away to.
Eventually I see Harper hiding behind the couch in the living room. I pick her up and apologise for what she had to witness, still ignoring the snake I call a wife. I take Harper upstairs and put her in her bed as she is already dressed in her little pyjamas.
After tucking her in and reading her favourite bedtime story to hopefully distract her from the previous events, I sneak out and close her door, heading to my own room before showering and climbing into this god for saken bed.
The snake is still downstairs.
She's currently on the phone, probably sobbing to her parents about how much of a fuck up I am and how she's failed them as a daughter for marrying a baker.
As I lay my head back on the lumpy and uncomfortable pillow I feel the sleep overtake my heavy eyes, and almost instantly pass out, the slight sting still very much evident in my left cheek.
***
The harsh sound of my alarm awakens me from my deep sleep.
I lazily switch it off and get ready for yet another day at the bakery.
After showering and getting dressed I pull on my shoes and jog downstairs, eager to leave this hell hole I call a home.
Not before kissing Harper goodbye and ignoring the snake cooking breakfast.
The car starts up and I make my way to the bakery.
It's been about 3 hours. Business is relatively slow today and I couldn't be more thankful.
No one suspects I just got abused by my bitch of a wife but then again I've worked on my fake smile for years on end it almost feels like it's real sometimes.
My coworkers are currently out on a lunch break but I've decided to stay in and keep working.
After all, I'll need as much money as I can get.
Lawyers are very expensive.
As I stand in the back, kneading away at a ball of dough I hear the annoying bell chime, indicating someone is now in the shop awaiting to be served.
I quickly wipe off the flour from my hands and make my way to the front.
I see a short man with straight brown hair swooped to the side, tattoos running up and down his arms, and the prettiest pair of blue eyes I think I've ever seen. A pair of black skinny jeans hugged his legs tightly, surprising me he's able to still gain circulation and move around.
He had a slight stubble on his chin and the side of his face.
I would say he was quite attractive, and I'm straight.
I greet him with a warm smile.
A fake one of course.
"Hi, how are you doing today?" I ask, a little too much happiness is my voice.
He returns the gesture.
"I'm good thank you, could I get a..." He begins in a very, very British accent.
He takes a moment to decide and suddenly lands on a double-layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream in the centre and around the outside.
I ask him for a name, popping his order into the register, mentally preparing myself for making this cake as nice as I possibly can.
"Louis Tomlinson". He replies with a nice smile.
Louis Tomlinson.
What a nice sounding name.
The two words kept repeating themselves over and over in my head.
After typing his name in and giving him an estimated time, I look up to see him staring at me and then quickly flicking his eyes down to read my name badge. He nods quickly and gives a small "thank you" before turning on his heel and exiting the shop. I nod in return at his "thank you" and stand there for a moment, taking in the whole interaction before turning on my own heel and rushing off to make the special cake.
***
About an hour goes by and I'm only just finishing up boxing the cake and tying the ribbon on top of the box when I hear that infamous bell chime again.
I carefully pick up the box and make my way to the front, smiling to myself when I see him standing there again.
We greet each other and I carefully slide the cake over in front of him, watching as his face lights up and a wide smile spreads across his face as he stares at the cake through the transparent bit on the top and side of the box.
A smile overtakes on my own face without me even realising it.
"This is absolutely perfect" he nods in excitement before handing over his card to pay for it.
I nod and thank him before swiping his card and handing it back, walking around the counter to open the door for him.
He picks up the cake with ease and makes his way out the door before turning around quickly.
Our eyes meet.
"Thank you again, Harry" he gives me a warm smile.
I nod. "Anytime, Louis" I reply and watch as he turns back around and makes his way down the street.
I shut the door and walk around the store, cleaning up and finishing off whatever baked goods needed to be finished off.
***
The sun was setting by the time I clocked out and locked up the bakery. Everyone else left about an hour ago, knowing it wouldn't get too busy.
Usually I would be a little bit peeved off because they can still help me to make things, but I surprised myself when I wasn't.
I guess I was too busy thinking about the infamous "Louis Tomlinson" to even put a second thought to it.
The drive home was the same as any other. Long and boring.
I should probably start walking again. Clear my mind whilst i'm at it.
Who am I kidding it's far too warm for that shit.
I park in the driveway and make my way inside, going straight upstairs when I don't see Harper sitting at the table.
I take a shower, trying not to think too much a certain someone and then get changed into comfier clothes.
I say goodnight to Harper when it's finally time to get to bed and stare at the ceiling once i'm finally under the covers.
I don't know what's gotten into me or why I continuously think about Louis, but I can't seem to stop myself.
I felt something when I saw him.
Like the tiniest of flames had been lit deep inside my almost empty being again.
Kind of reminded me of the same feeling I got when I first met my wife years ago.
Except this time it felt more real.
Why?
I couldn't tell you. I've never been attracted to a man like that. Let alone anyone that I've barely had a conversation with.
I don't know what makes him so different, but he's intriguing me in ways i've never been intrigued before.
What the fuck am I saying?
I'm not gay.
It's just my feelings fucking up the way i'm thinking. Probably just trying to distract me from the devil I live with.
Yeah.
Yeah that's it.
There was something strangely striking about him though.
The way he couldn't match the outfit today to save his life.
He wore a bright neon shirt, black skinny jeans and bright yellow and blue sneakers. His fingers had rings and he even wore a couple bracelets.
And I think I saw about 2 or 3 necklaces sitting around his neck.
Today, he wore pink.
