Unspoken Memories
1243 Words
(Richard’s POV)
Richard woke up to find Evelyn asleep by his side, her head resting gently against the edge of the bed. The faint morning light streamed through the blinds, casting soft lines across her tired but peaceful face.
He smiled faintly, his chest tightening with a strange mixture of relief and guilt. How long had it been since someone cared enough to stay by his side through the night? It had been years — years of silence, of empty rooms, of memories that refused to fade.
When Evelyn stirred and opened her eyes, confusion clouded her face for a moment before she quickly sat up. “I’m sorry… I never meant for things to turn out this way,” she murmured, standing up and nervously holding his hand.
“It’s fine,” Richard replied gently, his voice calm and low. “I know I shouldn’t have undressed you to change your clothes, but you were covered in vomit and crying — mentioning some guy’s name. I was only trying to help.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened slightly. Shame and embarrassment washed over her as she recalled fragments of the previous night — the bar, the heartbreak, the drinks, and her tears. She looked away quickly.
“I… I’m sorry,” she said again, forcing a small, trembling smile before heading toward the door.
Richard watched her quietly, something unreadable flickering in his gaze.
Outside the room, Evelyn stopped by the hallway mirror, staring at her reflection. Her eyes were puffy and red, her makeup smudged, her hair tangled. “How did I get myself into this mess?” she whispered under her breath, her voice cracking.
Hours passed. Richard rested in bed while the doctor came to check on him. “You’re lucky she acted fast,” the doctor said. “You lost a lot of blood — she saved your life.”
Those words lingered in his mind. She saved my life.
Later that afternoon, the nurse walked in and said cheerfully, “Sir, you’ve been cleared for discharge.” She turned to Evelyn. “You’ll need to sign here for the patient.”
Evelyn blinked. “Me? But I’m not family.”
“The hospital just needs someone responsible. You brought him here, remember?” the nurse replied with a smile.
Evelyn hesitated, then signed the form. Once everything was settled, she called Olivia.
“Hello, Olivia,” she began nervously. “I know I’ve messed up, but I really need your help. They’ve discharged Mr. Richard, and he needs someone to drive him home. Please, just this one last favor — I promise not to get into trouble again.”
Olivia’s sigh was audible even through the phone. “Evelyn… you said that the last time.”
“I mean it this time,” Evelyn said softly.
After a pause, Olivia finally agreed.
When she arrived, she glanced at Richard through the car window. “You don’t look like someone who just came out of the hospital,” she joked.
Richard chuckled weakly. “That’s because your friend here is a good nurse.”
Evelyn blushed slightly and looked away.
As Olivia drove, she glanced at him through the mirror. “Why didn’t any of your family members come to the hospital? And why did Evelyn have to sign your discharge papers instead of one of your children?”
Richard smiled faintly, his eyes distant. “My family isn’t in the state.”
“Oh, that’s sad,” Olivia said. “You should at least have someone around. Living like a bachelor when you’re married isn’t good.”
Evelyn and Richard exchanged a quick, awkward glance.
“I have maids,” he replied softly. “They’re my family here.”
Evelyn turned to the window, pretending to be distracted by the view. “Olivia, please drive faster,” she muttered.
Minutes later, they arrived at his house — a large, well-decorated mansion surrounded by trimmed hedges and blooming flowers. Olivia whistled softly. “Wow… nice place.”
As they stepped in, one of the maids hurried toward them. “Welcome, sir! How are you feeling? What should I prepare for you and your visitors?”
“Just bring me a glass of water and ask my guests what they’d like to eat,” Richard replied.
“Okay! Hi, my name’s Arianna,” the maid said cheerfully, turning to the ladies. “What would you like? We have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, hash browns, steak, and baked potatoes.”
Olivia laughed. “Wow, that’s quite a menu. I’ll just take orange juice.”
“I’ll take a glass of water,” Evelyn said softly.
“Just water and juice?” Richard frowned. “No way. Arianna, please prepare something light for them. They must eat before leaving — it’s my way of saying thank you.”
“It’s fine, really,” Evelyn said quickly. “We’re in a hurry and need to attend to something important.”
“I insist,” Richard said firmly, his tone gentle but final.
“Alright then,” Olivia sighed. “But please make it fast.”
Soon, they were seated at the dining table. The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air. Richard sat opposite Evelyn, but his gaze kept drifting toward her. There was something about the way she smiled politely, the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear — something painfully familiar.
Why does she look so much like my ex-wife? he thought. The same calm eyes, the same careful grace… even the way she eats feels like déjà vu.
Lost in thought, he barely touched his food. Evelyn noticed his distant expression.
“Why aren’t you eating? Is something wrong?” she asked gently.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he kept staring, lost somewhere between memory and reality.
Evelyn reached out and tapped him lightly. “Mr. Richard?”
He blinked, coming back to himself. His eyes were slightly misty when he finally looked up.
“Where are your parents?” he asked softly.
The question hit Evelyn like a slap. She froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth. Her expression changed from curiosity to pain in an instant.
Without saying a word, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked out.
“Evelyn—” Richard started, his voice cracking.
“I’m sorry,” he called after her, standing abruptly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you — I just needed to be sure of something!”
Olivia stood too, blocking his way gently. “Don’t go after her,” she said quietly. “The story behind her parents… it’s not something she’s ready to talk about. Not with anyone — not even you.”
She picked up her bag and followed Evelyn outside, leaving Richard standing in silence.
He sank back into his chair, staring blankly at the untouched plate before him. The sound of the ticking clock echoed through the empty room.
Why did I have to ask that? he thought miserably, running a hand through his hair.
He leaned back, gazing at the ceiling. “She looked so much like her,” he whispered to himself. “Same eyes. Same pain.”
The house suddenly felt colder. He could still hear the faint sound of Evelyn’s voice in his head, soft and trembling — and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he found himself longing to see her again.
- Writer
