Fractured Promises

Chapter 4: Shadows of Doubt

One evening, Stanley called to cancel their plans.

“I have to stay late at the hospital,” he said, his voice smooth but distant. “It’s an emergency shift.”

Lily had been disappointed but understanding. She knew how gruelling medical school could be and how draining the hours could be.

However, later that night, as she sat with her siblings, helping Mariam with her homework, a thought crossed her mind. Stanley always seemed tired after his shifts and often mentioned how much he missed her during long nights at the hospital. Perhaps a small surprise could lift his spirits.

She decided to bring him his favourite coffee.

Lily went to the café just around the corner from the hospital. She ordered two special coffees, the aroma of roasted beans reminding her of quieter nights when they had shared quiet conversations over steaming mugs.

Clutching the warm cups, she walked the familiar path to the hospital, her heart light despite the late hour. She imagined the smile on Stanley’s face when he saw her and the warmth in his eyes.

But when she reached his floor, her excitement faltered.

“I’m here to see Stanley,” she told the nurse at the desk.

The nurse frowned. “Stanley? He’s not on shift tonight.”

Lily blinked in surprise. “Are you sure? He said he was working late.”

The nurse gave her an apologetic look. “It’s his day off.”

The words struck her like a blow. For a moment, Lily stood frozen, clutching the coffee cups as confusion swirled in her mind. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe Stanley had switched shifts. But the uncertainty gnawed at her, sharp and cold.

Without thinking, she stepped back, her heart pounding fast. Doubts crowded her mind, unspoken fears pressing in.

Just as she was about to call him, a hushed voice drifted from the nearby hallway.

“Dr. Stanley Caldwell’s shift ended already. I saw him leaving with a patient file.”

“Yeah, he’s always so discreet. The Caldwell name must come with a lot of responsibilities.”

Lily’s breath caught. Caldwell?

The name stirred something within her, but before she could turn around, the two nurses who had spoken had already walked away, their voices fading.

She shook off the unease creeping up her spine. It had to be a coincidence.

Still, when she looked at Stanley’s contact, a strange feeling settled in her chest—one she couldn’t quite name.

She stepped outside and hailed a cab.

Stanley’s apartment was quiet when she arrived. The street was dimly lit, only the distant hum of traffic filling the silence. She stepped out of the cab, clutching the coffee, her breath misting in the cool air.

And that’s when she saw it.

An expensive car pulled up, its sleek black frame gleaming under the streetlight.

The driver’s door opened first, followed by the passenger side.

Stanley stepped out, looking tired but composed. His coat was draped over one arm.

Then, a young woman emerged. Tall, elegant, with striking features that mirrored Stanley’s sharp bone structure.

She laughed at something he said and then, without hesitation, leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

It wasn’t lingering, but it wasn’t fleeting either. It was intimate in a way that made Lily’s stomach twist.

She stood close—too close. Her hand rested lightly on his arm, her expression soft and concerned.

To Lily, something about this moment felt… off.

“You should have told her, Stanley,” Ava murmured, her voice almost too quiet. “Keeping this from her isn’t fair.”

“I know,” Stanley exhaled, rubbing his face. “I just… I don’t know how to.”

Lily’s stomach twisted. Keeping what from whom?

Ava sighed. “If she finds out from someone else—“

“She won’t,” Stanley cut in, his voice firmer now. “I’ll tell her. Just… not yet.”

Lily’s breath came faster. Not yet? Was it about her, if so, what was he keeping from her?

The need to run hit her suddenly—a sharp instinct. Before she could hear more, Stanley lifted his head—and his eyes locked onto hers.

The smile vanished from his face, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes darkened, revealing a hint of something unreadable on his features.

However, it was as quickly as it had appeared, and he adjusted his expression, concealing his true emotions.

“Lily,” he greeted her in a calm voice, which seemed unusually composed. “What brings you here?”

She swallowed, her throat parched. “I thought you were working late. I wanted to surprise you.” She held up the coffee, her hand trembling slightly. “But they informed me that you had the night off.”

Stanley glanced at the car, then back at her. The woman had already slipped inside, and the door clicked shut behind her.

He forced a small smile. “You didn’t have to do that. I was merely catching up with an old friend.”

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest. “Who is she?”

He hesitated for a moment before responding, “A friend from the hospital. Just catching up.”

The lie hung heavily in the air, palpable and oppressive.

Lily refrained from pressing him further. She didn’t want to know the truth, not yet.

Stanley reached out and took the coffee from her hands. “Come inside. It’s freezing.”

And she reluctantly followed him, despite her instincts urging her to stay away.

The night passed in an uneasy silence. They sat close to each other, their bodies touching but their minds worlds apart.

Stanley didn’t mention the car or provide any explanation. Lily didn’t ask either. But the unspoken questions lingered between them, weighing heavily on their minds.

She didn’t sleep that night. Not truly. She lay beside him, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, wondering what secrets he kept concealed behind that composed facade.

Days turned into weeks, but the doubt persisted.

Ruth’s health gradually declined, and Lily found herself spending more nights at home, preparing meals, assisting her younger brother with his science homework, and soothing Mariam’s nightmares.

Her siblings and mother relied on her. She couldn’t afford to succumb to despair.

Yet, every time Stanley kissed her or touched her with that same raw intensity, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her.

Was he concealing a life from her?

Or was she merely imagining shadows where there were none?

However, Stanley’s behaviour seemed to be deteriorating.

The distance between them grew, albeit subtly and undeniable. He canceled plans more frequently, offering vague excuses that didn’t quite fit the situation. Despite this, he still showered her with gifts, but they felt like distractions rather than genuine expressions of love.

And Lily felt herself gradually fading away.

The truth was, she yearned for more. She wanted to be a part of his world, to comprehend his silence and guarded glances. She wanted to know the reasons behind his past being locked away, why he flinched when she inquired about his family.

She wanted to know the identity of that woman and why Stanley had lied.

Because love, no matter how passionate, couldn’t endure in the darkness.

And Lily was weary of living in the shadows.