Dear Ex, You Are Late!

My hands clenched the steering wheel, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, I needed to pick up the cake and get home in time to prepare dinner. My phone beeped with a text, and I whipped my head to the phone, glancing through the text. When I raised my head again, two cars were approaching me at the speed of light. “Ahh!” I screamed as my car collided with the two cars that came crashing into me. “f**k!” My head bounced into the steering wheel as I felt blood drop out of my noise. The car started after some kicks and I drove it away, my head was beginning to feel dizzy, my driving was sloppy as I parked my car in the hospital garage. “Doctor!” The aged nurse that had helped me into the hospital yelled as she climbed the stairs. A lanky young man with glasses perched on his nose walked up to me. His hand was icy cold when it came in contact with my skin. “What happened?” He asked, already inspecting my head. “I got into an accident,” I let out a wince as he held an instrument over my head. “You have a concussion,” He stated matter of factly. “And?” I asked, not daring to move my head as he was still hovering around it. “A family member needs to sign a consent form, we're taking you in for a surgery,” He said before putting some distance between us. I nodded my head, turning on my phone. My phone lit up with the name of the person I was calling. ‘Hubby’ stringed with multiple heart emoticons. It rang for a long time and the mechanical voice from the phone informed me that he wasn't picking up his call. Twice, thrice, I called him, the number of missed calls piling. Sent frantic text messages that was left unanswered. The doctor stepped out from his office again, checking up on me. “Is he here yet?” He asked and I shook my head in response. “He should be fast then,” He stated before retrieving back into his office. The dialing tone of my phone rang out as I called him frantically only to be met by silence. “Would he even care if I die?” I mutter under my breath, stepping out of the ward with my phone still dialing his number. “Did you see her boyfriend?” I paused in my steps, the excited chatter of some nurses reaching my ears. “He's so manly,” another one said. “And so protective of her,” She added. “I want someone like him,” Someone else gushed. I scoffed, starting to walk away when the name stopped me. “My own Adrain,” It hit me like a rock “Adrain?” I shook my head, denying the fact that indeed this Adrain was my husband. “I can't help but imagine how Scarlet found a man like him,” Another nurse chipped in. Every doubt I had flew out of the window. Scarlet. The socialite he was photographed with just last week broke the internet and their love story was used as a model. And when I asked, he called my concerns baseless and uncalled for. The Scarlet that he had once loved with all his heart. That Scarlet. The reason he refused to pick my calls. My legs moved faster than my brain, walking in the direction of the nurses. When I reached them, I didn't have to search for long before I saw Adrain in a ward, he was obviously yelling at a timid woman that stood before him. Even though I couldn't hear his words, he seemed to be blaming the woman for Scarlet's accident. Scarlet was sprawled across the bed, her cheek raised in pride. His phone rang in the room, jolting the atmosphere, looking down, he probably saw my name written there. His shoulders moved slightly before he waved at Scarlet and walked out of the ward. “Yes, what's it Zahra?” The familiar voice I had come to know had an edge in it now. “Where are you and why have you not been picking my calls,” I almost yelled. “I'm busy Zahra,” He softened his tone. “Busy?” I scoffed and he looked around. “Busy at the hospital?” I finally let out the yell. He tensed before looking around again. “Where are you?” His voice was low, containing a threat. “I'm so…” “Have you been following me?” He didn't allow me to finish. “No, it's all over the news. You reconcile with your first love and what does that make me?” I asked. He let out a sigh of relief before replying to me. “You're mistaken Zahra, it's not what you think.” He said. “Just continue with your work and stop over thinking,” He finally said. “I…” I was about to say the reason I called him but I saw Scarlet gesture to him from inside the ward. “I've gotta go now. Stay safe,” He muttered and hung up the call, dashing back into the ward. A self mocking smile played on my lips as I recalled the events of last week. I had worked hard so I could be given a project, it was a crucial time in our department yet somehow Scarlet arrived at the department and was given the project. All the efforts I had put into the project felt like a joke “What if Adrain had placed her there?” I laughed before turning on my heels and returning to the doctor's office. I had been so naive to think college love could work out and even when it was kept a secret. We met in college and married immediately after graduation in secret. Now I knew why he was adamant on a secret marriage, I felt like a fool at the moment. When I lost the project, Scarlet had cornered me at the restroom and inquired if I was sleeping with Adrain. I looked her dead in the eye and said “No, we're married,” I remembered her mocking laughter and the words that followed, serving to remind me that she was even closer to my husband than I was. She had pointed at my handbag and called it tacky and outdated but that it suited my personality, when I got home, that night I shoved the bag into the wardrobe never to be worn again. “So pathetic,” I spat. I arrived home a little bit late but still struggled to prepare dinner. I remembered that Adrain had said we would have dinner together but the taste of the food as I ate alone tasted bitter on my tongue. My phone beamed with notifications from all social media apps, photos of Adrian with Scarlet in a restaurant flooded the media. Her hands were placed on her lower abdomen making the internet upload with pregnancy rumors. Past histories of the two lovers were dug up, showing evidence that she was Adrain's true love, blessings poured out from the netizens. I scoffed, shoving food into my mouth “Three years,” I muttered. He had even forgotten our three years marriage anniversary. I stood up abruptly, almost knocking the table over. Picking up the chocolate cake I had designed myself, I dumped it into the trash bin and strutted into the bedroom, the soft feel of the bed enveloping me. Our bed. Hours passed and I was unable to sleep. My eyes became even clearer when the door opened and Adrain stepped him. The smell of alcohol clung to him as he walked into the bathroom. When he returned, he slumped into the bed, his hands finding my waist. I scooted away from him but he grabbed my waist even tighter. “Stop!” My voice cut through like a whip making him flinch subconsciously. “What's wrong?” He asked. “I want a divorce,” He froze.