Between Lust and Lies

He’s back

The snow got heavier the second I got outside.

I got in my car and drove.

I didn’t know where I was going. I didn't know what I was going to do.

All I knew was my husband had just given me the ultimate betrayal, wrapped it in good intentions, and expected me to smile and accept it.

All I knew was that in four months, his ex-girlfriend would give birth to his baby and everyone would expect me to play mother to a child that had nothing to do with me.

All I knew was that I was completely, utterly, devastatingly alone.

My phone rang. Dave. I declined.

It rang again. His mother. Declined.

A text came through:

Rhea, come home. We can talk about this like adults. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. —Dave.

It rang again. I was ready to throw it out the window when I saw the name.

Nathan.

My finger hovered over the screen, I took in a deep breath and answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”

“Hi, Rhea. I was just calling to check in. We have that follow-up appointment next week and I wanted to…

“I'm sorry, I will have to cancel…” My voice came out hoarse and a sniffle escaped me.

“Rhea, are you okay?”

My breath hitched. “Yeah.”

He paused. “What happened?” He asked in almost a whisper.

“I’m… I’m fine.”

My throat tightened.

“Don’t lie to me, Rhea. Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don't know.... I'm just... “ My vision became blurry. Tears I've been fighting so hard to hold strided down my cheeks.

“Where are you exactly?”

“I’m…I’m in my car.”

“You're driving right now?”

“Yeah, I just… I had to leave. I couldn't stay there, I couldn't…”

“Okay, breathe for me. Slowly. Can you please pull over for a second?”

“I can't... If I stop, I'll fall apart and I can't…I can't do that. Not yet.”

“Rhea, you're crying. It's snowing heavily. This isn't safe.”

“Nothing about my life is stable anymore.”I laughed, but it sounded absurd even to me.

“I understand you're overwhelmed but you need to pull over. Tell me where you are. I'll come get you.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I know I don't have to. I want to. You've trusted me with the hardest parts of your life for three years. Let me be here for you.

Before I could respond, a shadow darted across the road.

I screamed and jerked the wheel.

The car swerved out of the lane and the tires screeched. I yanked the wheel to get back to lane but it was too late. The car was sliding, hydroplaning, completely out of my control.

Trees rushed at me.

I slammed the brakes. Nothing.

CRASH.

Then…

The car hit a tree and the windscreen shattered. The airbag exploded into my face. Pain shot through my head and chest.

Then everything stopped.

I couldn't hear anything except ringing in my ears.

“Rhea? RHEA!” Nathan's voice was tinny and far away.

“I'm…here.” My voice sounded weak. “I… I just crashed.”

“What?! Where are you? Rhea, stay with me… where are you?”

“I don't know. Side of the road. Trees. I…” The notification of battery low sounded. “My phone's dying.”

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m calling for hel..”

The line ended.

“Fuck.”

I fumbled with my seatbelt. It took forever to get it unbuckled. When I finally got the door open, I fell out onto the ground.

I tried to stand but they gave out. I crawled a few feet, then collapsed against a tree.

Everything hurts. My head was pounding. Something warm dripped down my face—blood probably.

The snow had slowed but it was getting dark.

I pulled my knees to my chest and just sat there.

Maybe this was better. Better than fighting for something that doesn’t want me back.

My eyes got heavy and I let them close.

TWELVE HOURS LATER

My eyes open to a bright light and a white ceiling. Everywhere smells like disinfectant and there is beeping somewhere close. I looked down to see a tube in my arm…

“Riri?”

I know that voice. But I hadn't heard it in…

I turned my head, ignoring the pain shooting through my skull.

“Rian?”

He was sitting in a chair next to the bed, and he looked terrible. Wrinkled shirt, no tie, hair sticking up like he'd been pulling at it. Dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

He shot to his feet. “You're awake. Thank God, you're awake.”

“What are you doing here?”

He moved closer, his hand lingered over mine like he wasn't sure if he should touch me. “Mom called me. I got on the first flight out.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Yes, I did." His voice was low. “You scared the hell out of me."

I stared at him. Five years. Since he'd left for London and just... stopped coming back. And now he was here, looking at me like…

“I’m fine,” I said.

“You're not fine. You drove into a tree.”

“I didn't mean to.”

“I know.” He finally took my hand. “I know.”

“Dave… he…” My throat tightened.

“We don't have to talk about it.” He squeezed my hand. “Not now. Later. When you're ready. But right now…” He pulled back slightly, and I could see him trying to get himself together. “Right now, let me go get your doctor.”

I nodded in response.

The door clicked shut and I closed my eyes.

A minute later, Dr. Patel and Rian walked in. She checked my pupils with a light, asked me basic questions, and listened to my heart.

“Everything looks stable,” she said. “We’ll keep you for observation for a few more hours. Any dizziness or nausea, press the call button.”

She left.

The door opened again almost immediately.

My father walked in and Dave was right behind him.