Three
841 Words
"This hurts so much!" Jessica's voice broke through the air, it filled with pain and grief. It instantly pulled my attention back to her.
Her face was agony, a look I hadn’t noticed before. Just moments ago, she had been talking perfectly fine. What had changed so suddenly? And more importantly, was this really the same Jessica I thought I knew?
Theo brushed past me, his arm grazing mine as he moved toward her. The concern on his face was impossible to miss.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. The way he looked at her, so warm, so tender, it made my chest hurt. He had never looked at me like that, not even once. It stung, seeing him care for her with such obvious devotion.
“I am fine,” Jessica said shakily, forcing a weak smile. She tried to push herself to her feet, but her legs gave out beneath her. Theo caught her before she hit the ground.
Was this real? Was she seriously in this much pain, or was she putting on a show? Sure, she had an injury, but it wasn’t that bad, at least not bad enough to crumble like this. Just minutes ago, before Theo showed up, she had been talking to me, acting like she was completely fine.
Theo's eyes finally shifted toward me, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. Our gazes locked, neither of us saying a word. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. It had been days since I had last seen him. Days since he dropped the divorce bombshell on me and vanished without a trace. And now, here he was, standing right in front of me.
“Ahhh, it hurts so much…” Jessica’s cry shattered the silence, breaking our eye contact. His attention snapped back to her, his voice soft and full of concern as he said,
“Are you fine? I don’t think you should be walking in this condition.”
What condition? I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to point out she seemed perfectly fine. Instead, I offered, “Maybe a wheelchair? I can grab one to help you get to the parking lot.”
I started to move, but Jessica quickly raised her hand, stopping me.
“That won’t be necessary,” she said, her eyes fixed on Theo. “I am sure you wouldn’t mind carrying me, would you?”
Theo didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked toward me for the briefest moment, but I quickly looked away, trying to hide the tears stinging the corners of my eyes
"Yeah, I don’t mind," he said effortlessly, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Maybe she really didn’t.
In that moment, my heart dropped, the pain sharp and undeniable, stabbing me right in the chest. I didn’t think it would hurt this much, but it did. Tears spilled down my cheeks, and I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand.
Was this why he divorced me? For her? Jessica, his first love. And judging by the way he looked at her, he was still just as in love with her as ever.
I turned away, but what I saw made my stomach twist. Jessica, who had been acting like she was in unbearable pain, now had a smile on her lips. It was subtle but directed at me. And if I didn’t know any better, I would say she was mocking me.
She quickly averted her gaze as if nothing had happened, while Theo carried her away. I watched his retreating figure, my heart aching with every step he took. I wasn’t the only one watching. A few nurses and staff whispered amongst themselves, their eyes on the “perfect couple.”
They looked flawless together, like they belonged in some fairytale. It made me sick.
Feeling a bit of curiosity, and maybe a bit of jealousy—I followed them, keeping a safe distance so I wouldn’t come across as the bitter, obsessed ex-wife. I trailed them quietly, stopping behind a pillar when they reached the exit. From there, I had a clear view of the scene happening before me.
Jessica was still cradled in his arms as he carried her outside. A group of paparazzi waited for them, cameras ready, and as soon as they appeared, the flashes exploded like fireworks. It was blinding.
Fortunately for them, a group of men in black suits, Jessica and Theo’s bodyguards, I assumed—jumped in to clear the path, pushing the reporters aside to give them room to walk.
I watched as he gently placed her into the car, his every movement careful and considerate. They exchanged a few brief words before he closed her door and slid into the driver’s seat. Within seconds, the car sped away, leaving me behind.
There I stood, hidden behind a pillar, the lonely ex-wife, watching the man who was once mine drive away with someone else.
- Writer
