Broken vows(completed)

Depressed

Fred had to go to work, but he did not even feel like doing anything. Linda stayed to make breakfast for him, hoping to make him eat at least. Fred did not want to eat. All he wanted to do was to sleep and sleep. Linda was not sure what to do. She just felt obligated to stay by his side. She picked up her phone from her bag and dialled it.

" Mary, I don't think I can come in today, can you girls take care of everything whilst I am away", Linda said.

" Yes madam. We will do exactly as you have said", Mary replied.

" And, in case anyone comes looking for me, tell them to call me", Linda added.

" Yes, madam".

" Thank you", Linda said and hanged up.

Fred was still lying on the chair, with his knees up to his chest. His phone was on the center table and began to ring, but he felt too tired to answer it. Linda walked over to the table and picked up the phone. The ID number showed that, whoever was calling was calling from Fred's workplace.

" Fred, you need to answer this. It seems people from your office want to know why you are not at work, today", Linda said.

" I don't want to talk to anybody. Just cut the call or let it ring. Whoever is calling will stop eventually", Fred mumbled.

" Come on, Fred. What if it is your boss? Just tell them something, even if you don't have the urge to go to work, okay?" Linda suggested sitting beside him on the chair.

The phone stopped ringing. But, began to ring again, a few moments later.

" Please, answer it, Fred. Come on", Linda urged him.

Fred sat up straight and took the phone from Linda.

" Hello, Austin?" Fred said.

" Fred, where are you? It's almost ten in the morning and you are not here. Aren't you coming to work today?" Austin enquired.

Fred and Austin has been friends for a while. They both first met in the university, and instantly became friends when they both attended their first class together. Since then, their friendship grew, and they became more like brothers. They always had each others backs, and were always ready to stand up for the other.

So it was expected, when Austin turned out to be the one who called.

" No, I am not coming in today. I don't feel too well", Fred tiredly replied.

" Really? What's wrong? You looked fine yesterday", Austin sounded surprised.

" Yes, I was. I began having this headache earlier this morning and I feel very tired. I can't really do anything", Fred tried to explain.

" I am sorry to hear that, man. I guess it must be all the stress you have at home and work. Rest it out, okay? You will feel better soon", Austin said.

" Thanks. Can you please tell the boss for me? I really can't talk to him, right now", Fred implored.

" Sure, don't worry. I will let him know. Take care of yourself and I will come to see you this evening", Austin told him.

" Thank you. I will try and rest as much as I can. See you later, man", Fred hanged up.

" That wasn't so bad. Why don't you go and have your bath and rest for a while, hmm? It will do you some good", Linda said.

" I don't know..."

" Come on, Fred. Get up. You look terrible", Linda stood up and tried to help Fred up.

Fred leaned back for a while and stood up. He allowed himself to be led upstairs into his bedroom by Linda. She left him alone when he went into the bathroom and waited for him downstairs.

Fred walked into the bathroom and started to undress. He turned on the shower after he was done, and the water began to wet his body. Suddenly, he felt sadness overwhelm him. He could not control himself, so he began to cry so hard, making his whole body tremble.

Linda tried calling Martina. She dialled her number three times but Martina did not pick any of them. She almost gave up, but,  decided to try again for the last time. This time, it went through and Martina picked up after the second ring.

" Hi, Linda, what's up?" Martina greeted.

" Martina, where are you?" Linda asked, frowning.

" I am home. I decided to stay home today. I feel so tired and wanted to rest", Martina lied.

" Don't lie to me. I am in your house right now and you are nowhere to be found. So I am going to ask you one more time. Where are you, Martina?" Linda looked more serious now.

" Okay, fine. I am not home. But I can't tell you where I am either. It will be better if you did not know that", Martina admitted.

" Martina, why are you doing this? Why did you just leave? What happened?" Linda was exasperated.

" I grew tired of being with Fred, that's what happened. I can't continue to stay in a marriage with someone I have no feelings for", Martina replied.

" Are you listening to yourself? Since when did you even realise you are in a loveless marriage? No, don't tell me..." Linda's eyes widened when she realised what was happening.

" Yes, Stan and I are together again. I thought I was no longer in love with him, I was wrong. I still love Stanley and he and I are both living our lives together like we were meant to be", Martina cut in.

" No, Martina. Don't do this. Don't do this to Fred. He does not deserve this. Please, just come back home, okay? Think about your son as well", Linda pleaded.

" I do think about Junior. That is why when all this dies down, I will be coming for him", Martina said.

" This is Stanley we are talking about here, Martina. The same person who left you years ago. He is going to hurt you. A person like him can never change. Why can't you see that?" Linda tried to convince her.

" If you are so concerned about Fred, why don't you marry him? I have made up my mind, Linda. And, nothing can stop me. Take care of my son while I am away.  Good bye", she said and hanged up.

" Martina, wait!"

Linda removed the phone from her ear, and looked at it with shock written all over her face. She had suspected Martina was doing all this because of Stanley. And now that she was hearing it from Martina herself, she did not know how to handle it. She did not even know what she was going to tell Fred. She knew it would break him more. She sat down on the chair, with tears in her eyes.