The Stolen Night
1328 Words
The room was dimly lit, a soft glow from the bedside lamp spilling over the white sheets. Beverly had just stepped out of the bathroom, her skin glistening from the fresh bath, her body cream leaving behind a faint fragrance of vanilla. Larry lay against the headboard, his eyes following every movement she made. He watched the way she dabbed cream on her arms, the way her towel slipped slightly at her shoulders.
She caught him staring and laughed softly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she teased.
Larry got up and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
“Because you’re beautiful. And because,” he kissed her cheek, “it’s been a while. I want us tonight.”
Beverly leaned into him, but her shoulders sagged with fatigue. “Baby, please… I’m so tired. I’ve had too much work on my table today. Can we…” She touched his chin gently. “…can we leave it till tomorrow?”
His face fell, but he didn’t protest. Instead, he let her go and sat quietly at the edge of the bed. Beverly, noticing his silence, walked over and sat beside him. She held his hand, squeezing it warmly.
“Don’t be sad,” she whispered. “Tomorrow, I promise. And you know you’re everything to me, right?”
Larry smiled faintly, forcing strength into his voice. “Of course.”
They lay together after that, talking about little things, the kind of conversations that had always defined their relationship. For them, love wasn’t only in grand gestures but in these small, comforting exchanges that built their bond brick by brick.
Later in the evening, Beverly returned home late from work. She unlocked the sitting-room door and gasped. Her eyes widened as she stepped into a room transformed. Fresh flowers lay scattered across the floor, glowing with tiny lights Larry had hidden among them. The path of petals led her all the way up the stairs.
“Larry?” she called out, her voice shaky with surprise.
“Follow the flowers,” his voice floated from upstairs, warm and inviting.
She laughed in disbelief and followed the trail. By the time she reached their bedroom, her heart was pounding not with fatigue from work, but with excitement. She opened the door and found Larry waiting, his face glowing with a wide smile.
“All this… for me?” Beverly asked, her eyes darting between the candles, flowers, and soft music humming in the background.
“Do you like it?” Larry asked, his voice hopeful.
“Of course,” she replied, covering her mouth. “It’s beautiful. It smells like a garden here. But…” she teased, “…how are you going to clean this up tomorrow? You know our maid is off.”
“Forget tomorrow,” Larry said, stepping closer. “Tonight is what matters.”
Her smile softened. She picked up the small bag she had brought home. “Good. Because I came prepared too.”
Larry’s eyebrows shot up. “Prepared?”
Beverly winked and disappeared into the bathroom. Minutes later, she emerged wearing a silky nightdress, one that clung perfectly to her curves. Larry’s jaw dropped, his eyes refusing to leave her.
“Wow,” he whispered.
Beverly chuckled shyly, walking toward him. He quickly dimmed the lights further and switched the music to a slow love song. They were about to embrace when a sudden beeping sound interrupted them, the alarm at the front door.
Both froze.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Larry asked, already frowning.
Beverly shook her head. “No. Wait… that voice… is that”
Before she could finish, Mrs. Lawson’s unmistakable tone echoed through the house.
“Beverly? Are you home?”
Beverly’s heart sank. “Mom?”
Larry groaned in frustration, running a hand over his face. “Not tonight, Bev. Please don’t do this.”
Beverly quickly threw on a plain nightgown over her lingerie and rushed downstairs. She opened the door and found her mother standing with a folder in her hand, her expression sharp. Her mom saw the flowers on the ground.
“So, your roommate (Larry) has turned the house to a farm”
“Mom, it’s ten o’clock at night. What are you doing here?”
“I sent you an email,” Mrs. Lawson replied curtly. “Didn’t you see it? I need you to help me review this client’s project. My deadline is tomorrow morning. Now go get your laptop. We’ll work in my room.”
“Mom…” Beverly tried to protest, “can’t it wait until”
“No excuses, Beverly. Hurry.”
She turned and walked upstairs without another word. Beverly closed her eyes in silent frustration, hitting her palm against her thigh before reluctantly following.
Larry was waiting at the top of the stairs, his face tense. “She’s staying?”
“She… she wants me to help her with some work,” Beverly explained softly. “Please understand.”
“Bev, tonight was supposed to be ours. For once…” His voice cracked slightly, but he tried to hide it. “Please tell her you can’t.”
Beverly touched his arm apologetically. “You know she won’t take no for an answer. I promise I’ll be back soon.”
Larry tries to drag her. But I have no choice but to leave calmly, hoping she won’t be long.
But “soon” turned into hours. Mrs. Lawson kept adding more corrections, more reviews, more work. Both mother and daughter sat at different laptops, typing into the night. Eventually, exhaustion won over, and they fell asleep side by side on the couch.
Meanwhile, Larry sat alone in their bedroom. He couldn’t sleep. He kept staring at the clock eleven, twelve, one. At two in the morning, Beverly finally crept back in, tiptoeing as if she were sneaking into her own home. She found Larry half-asleep, his body turned away from her.
“Baby,” she whispered, sliding under the covers.
He stirred but didn’t fully face her.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, touching his shoulder. “It took longer than I thought. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
Larry inhaled deeply, letting his disappointment fade into resignation. “It’s fine,” he whispered.
They cuddled quietly, but the unspoken weight between them lingered like a shadow.
The next day, Beverly returned from work and found Larry sitting alone in the living room. His expression was heavy, his phone lying idle on the table.
“Hey, babe,” she said softly, leaning down to kiss him.
He barely responded.
“What’s wrong?” Beverly asked, taking off her shoes.
“The client I told you about,” Larry said slowly. “The one Sam introduced me to. They pulled out. Gave the project to another firm.”
Beverly’s face fell. “What? Why? What happened?”
Larry asks what happened Dear, you promised to come home early today? Oh, I got more truckloads on my table today and I ran some stands for my mom, oh your mom again? I’m stupid for thinking something else.
Larry stood up, his emotions finally boiling
Beverly’s lips parted, stunned. “Do you really want to say this to me?”
“Isn’t it?” Larry shot back, his voice trembling with pain. And walked out.
Silence pressed down on the room like a weight. Beverly’s eyes glistened, but she couldn’t find the words.
The night that had begun with flowers and love had ended in silence, anger, and distance, another stolen night.
- Writer
