The invisible wife

The Heyes

Houston was a city in Texas, a city that never slept but at the top, stood a man who had conquered it.

Daniel Hayes,

Young and successful. Daniel is the CEO of Hayes Energy Group of Company, a multi-million dollars empire built on ambition, connection and influence.

Daniel was a man with everything in the world, he could get anything and everything he wanted in anywhere he wanted it at anytime. But behind all of these, there's a life falling apart, “his marriage”.

While Daniel was awake looking at the relentless droning outside the city, imagining his high-rise apartment, the early morning sunset that reflected through the eagle of the room curtain, cursing a shadow reflection on the plush carpet.

With all the abundance that surrounded Daniel, the luxurious life he is living, flawlessly polished furniture, sleek technology cluttered.

He felt a profound sense of entrapment.

Daniel propped himself up against the sea of the cool silk sheets, rubbing his eyes, inhaling deeply as he sorted through the haze of sleep. Memories of late nights meetings and pre-dawn conference calls, the scent of cedar and fresh linen filled the air lingered in the corners of his mind.

This has been his life, achievements, rewards, accolades, beneath all of the awards lay a simmering frustration that can not be controlled. The weight he has been carrying as settled deep over the course of the years.

He stood at the side of the mirror, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the wooden floor beneath his feet. It was a distraction that has become too familiar. His gese was on edge of the dresser, glancing at his reflection in the mirror set at the front of the bed.

Daniel is a young guy of 27 years old, brilliant CEO at one of the biggest companies in Texas. Proud, brown eyes, a strong jawline, and a well tailored suit. But, he feels like a stranger in his own image and he couldn’t help it.

His thoughts drifted to Amara, his wife, shared bedroom, yet in they are in their separate world, he groomed himself, brushing aside the remnants of a tiredness.

He felt the absence like a cold void between them. The barrier that had grown each passing day. The marriage that was once filled with joy and laughter had morphed into a routine like a responsibilities that needs to be checked, the acknowledgement of silent but never truly fulfilled.

With a heavy heart, he prepared for the day ahead. The perceived aroma of the coffee brewed in the kitchen, it mingled with the scent of the fresh croissants he’d ordered from their favorite bakery. He had promised Amara they would always have breakfast together again but promises slipped away through the fingers just like many marriages.

The silence of their home was broken by the vibration of his phone from a corner. He wasn’t expecting any calls or messages, looking at the screen of the phone, it was a message from his assistant. “Good morning sir, hope you don’t forget the meetings lining up till afternoon. One is from the investors in the Arianna company, and the other, how we are going to strategize with the marketing team". This made his stomach twist uncomfortably. He doesn't even have time to work on his marriage because of too many expectations in the office.

Yet, before he could shake that off, his phone rang, Mom? Why is she calling? He asked beneath himself.

Hey son! Have you got a moment? Her voice was loud enough, warm and bustling with excitement, yet with the tone of urgency that put him on an edge.

“Good morning mom, yes am here” he responded, making a fake smile she couldn’t see. The familiar tightening of his chest returned as he braced himself.

Amara had called earlier to inform her about what's going on in their marriage that they weren't aware of. Daniel's mother had to act not letting him suspect anything.

“Your father and I are coming for a visit this weekend! It’s been long since we’ve seen you and Amara,” she said, the excitement in her tone clashing with an undercurrent of expectation.

His pulse raced as his mom mentioned the visit. Daniel knew this wasn’t just a casual visit for his parents, it's an assessment of his marriage and his life, but not suspecting any information pasting to them.

“Mom? This weekend? Really?” he echoed, already feeling cornered as images of his parents inevitably interrogating him about his life flickered through his mind.

“Yes of course! Do you have a plan already… With your wife?

No no mom, he said, trying not to imagine anything at the mention of Amara.

Ok then! We want to see how you two are doing. It will be a wonderful family dinner. I’ll bring your favorite wine!” she said, her tone undeterred, oblivious to the turmoil rising within him.

“Sure,” he replied, trying to suppress the disagreement and dismay wrapping around him. “Just let me speak with Amara.”

After the call, the weight of not meeting up with the expectations in his marriage felt more heavier than before, as he paced round the kitchen quietly.

Amara appeared at the entrance of the kitchen, her eyes still half closed looking ethereal in the morning light

“Good morning” Daniel murmured, he looked at her feeling another pang of distance. Mom and Dad will be coming over by the weekend… this weekend.

With her expression she did not seems surprised. “OK” she said.

“Yeah, they are coming to have dinner with us” he hesitated, is that okay with you?

She frowned lightly, “Of course”.

I have been waiting for this for a very long time, she said softly with a very low tone. Daniel sensed the absence and it confirmed the unsolved conflict between them.

While they shared breakfast, Daniel was thinking how he could escape the visit of his parents, thinking about it alone brings tension in him.

After breakfast Daniel set for work. At the office, the day was too fast for Daniel. Meetings came and went, team strategizing and implementing, but everything that was being done was falling to tether his drifting thoughts.

As of the afternoon time, there was tension in the boardroom. It was his managing director, Ellen, that laid out the expenses for the new campaign, droning on about metrics and outreach strategies. Daniel nodded in agreement, not concentrating on the meeting, his thoughts were miles away.

The brave and composed CEO by day, a lost husband at home.

Ellen noticed Daniel was absent even while he was sitting with them.

“Mr Heyes?” Ellen’s voice broke through. “What are your thoughts?