Page 3
Story: The Cost of Forgetting Me
Landon frowned at the suggestion. Weeks of restaurant food and street food had taken their toll on his stomach.
Clara couldn’t detect his reluctance, which he concealed with a smile. “Whatever you want is fine.”
But I knew he was craving homemade meals.
He had a fragile stomach and was picky about food. He despised onions, peanut oil, organ meats, and fish with small bones. I’d memorised his preferences and tailored each meal to his liking.
When work dinners made him sick, I’d make light dishes to calm his stomach and lift his spirits.
He never appreciated it. To him, my efforts were simply the responsibility of the wife he provided for.
Clara, however, was his princess.
She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Of course, she did not cook. Her hands were unsuitable for that.
When the takeaway arrived, Landon only ate a small portion.
Clara noticed. “Not your thing?”
He shook his head, but I saw disappointment in his eyes.
She enquired; “It seems you don’t quite like these popular dishes. What do you like to eat? I’ll order it next time.”
Landon shrugged. “I’m not fussy. Some salad or a rib soup would do.”
His voice carried a hint of longing, but it quickly faded.
I wanted to tell him that even simple dishes demanded attention and effort. But it didn’t matter any more. My heart was finished with him.
He ate a small meal before clearing the takeaway boxes and going outside to dispose of the trash. Alone, he dialled my number again. Three calls went to a dead phone.
He paced back and forth before scrolling through his contacts. Unfortunately, he did not know my friends, and I had left my job, drifting away from old coworkers.
Out of options, he called my mother.
When she responded, he snapped, “How long is Nora gonna drag this out? Tell her to quit the drama, or we’re through.”
My mother had no idea how much I had sacrificed for Landon.
I would always reassure her to allay her fears. “I’m happy with Landon. He loves me. I’m not struggling, and I’m not the kind to settle for an unhappy marriage either.”
She trusted me. She was devastated by the harsh reality.
“What kind of husband are you?” she exclaimed. “Nora has been in the ICU for a month. You don’t care, and you think she’s being dramatic?”
I had never heard her so ferocious. She was always gentle and almost timid. But for me, she was ready to face anyone.
“You ingrate!” she exclaimed. “You don’t deserve my daughter.”
Landon paused at her outburst before lashing back. “Stop making things up. Nora in the ICU? No way. She acted out alone in the past, and now she has roped you into her act. Come on!”
I saw disbelief in his eyes, but I also saw contempt and irritation. I realised how callous he could be.
Tessa’s voice cracked with fury. “Nora will never forgive you, not even in death! And you will pay for this! I’ll make sure of it!”
Landon clutched the phone, his veins bulging. “Shut up! Nora’s not dead. Tell her to come home. If she wants to die, she can divorce me first.”
Tessa hung up, ending his rant.
Landon never imagined that one day he’d lose his temper because of me.
Clara couldn’t detect his reluctance, which he concealed with a smile. “Whatever you want is fine.”
But I knew he was craving homemade meals.
He had a fragile stomach and was picky about food. He despised onions, peanut oil, organ meats, and fish with small bones. I’d memorised his preferences and tailored each meal to his liking.
When work dinners made him sick, I’d make light dishes to calm his stomach and lift his spirits.
He never appreciated it. To him, my efforts were simply the responsibility of the wife he provided for.
Clara, however, was his princess.
She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Of course, she did not cook. Her hands were unsuitable for that.
When the takeaway arrived, Landon only ate a small portion.
Clara noticed. “Not your thing?”
He shook his head, but I saw disappointment in his eyes.
She enquired; “It seems you don’t quite like these popular dishes. What do you like to eat? I’ll order it next time.”
Landon shrugged. “I’m not fussy. Some salad or a rib soup would do.”
His voice carried a hint of longing, but it quickly faded.
I wanted to tell him that even simple dishes demanded attention and effort. But it didn’t matter any more. My heart was finished with him.
He ate a small meal before clearing the takeaway boxes and going outside to dispose of the trash. Alone, he dialled my number again. Three calls went to a dead phone.
He paced back and forth before scrolling through his contacts. Unfortunately, he did not know my friends, and I had left my job, drifting away from old coworkers.
Out of options, he called my mother.
When she responded, he snapped, “How long is Nora gonna drag this out? Tell her to quit the drama, or we’re through.”
My mother had no idea how much I had sacrificed for Landon.
I would always reassure her to allay her fears. “I’m happy with Landon. He loves me. I’m not struggling, and I’m not the kind to settle for an unhappy marriage either.”
She trusted me. She was devastated by the harsh reality.
“What kind of husband are you?” she exclaimed. “Nora has been in the ICU for a month. You don’t care, and you think she’s being dramatic?”
I had never heard her so ferocious. She was always gentle and almost timid. But for me, she was ready to face anyone.
“You ingrate!” she exclaimed. “You don’t deserve my daughter.”
Landon paused at her outburst before lashing back. “Stop making things up. Nora in the ICU? No way. She acted out alone in the past, and now she has roped you into her act. Come on!”
I saw disbelief in his eyes, but I also saw contempt and irritation. I realised how callous he could be.
Tessa’s voice cracked with fury. “Nora will never forgive you, not even in death! And you will pay for this! I’ll make sure of it!”
Landon clutched the phone, his veins bulging. “Shut up! Nora’s not dead. Tell her to come home. If she wants to die, she can divorce me first.”
Tessa hung up, ending his rant.
Landon never imagined that one day he’d lose his temper because of me.