THE WIFE WHO FORGOT

CHAPTER 5: HIS DECEVING EYES - PART 1

He didn’t know why — he just knew he had to see her.

It was way past ten. She should be done by now, he told himself. They must have finished all that work hours ago. He made up excuse after excuse in his head, trying to justify it — I just want to check she’s okay. I just want to see her face. Just a quick call…

Before he even knew it, he was turning down her street. Pulling up her building Parking lot. Walking through the doors.

INT. BUILDING LOBBY — NIGHT

The lobby was quiet. Jason walked in, head down. The night doorman nodded. Jason nodded back — empty.

He stepped up to the elevators and pressed the button. When the doors opened, he stepped in — and as the door was about to slide shut jason spots a man hurry towards him and saw jason puts his hand out to keep the elevator door open to allow the man to come in. He stepped in right behind Jason, phone phone pressed to his ear, arms loaded high with stacked boxes of takeout food, as the door again slid shut. He was still talking into the phone pressed to his ear.

“Yes, yes — I got the food. I’ll be up in a sec, just keep the door open, I’ll be a minute… yeah, okay, bye.”

He ended the call, slipped his phone back into his pocket, then turned to Jason with a quick, good-natured smile.

“Thanks, man. Running late — my lady can get very cranky if she doesn’t get her food on time! Ah — can you hit the 10th floor for me, please? Thanks.”

Jason smiled back — friendly, easy — and leaned over to press the button. “No problem.”

Just two strangers sharing a lift. Nothing more.

He stood there, watching the numbers tick upward.

The elevator gave a soft ding. The doors glided open onto the 10th floor.

Jason stepped out first, then held the door open for the man — think he may as well help the guy, god knows his arms over loaded with all those boxes.“ best if you go first before you drop somthing, after you.”

“Thats true! he laughed." "Thanks,” the man said, stepping past him.

Jason hung back, giving him plenty of space to walk ahead — but then he paused, when the man walked straight down the hall… and turned right. Toward Rose’s apartment. And stopped in frant of her door.

Jason stopped in his tracks. His heart gave a hard, sudden lurch.was he seening this right? He stepped quietly back, pressing himself behind the large potted plant just outside the elevator doors — hidden, unseen. He held his breath.

Before the man could even knock — the door swung open.

Out popped Rose with a smile ear to ear. She wasn’t surprised to see this guy. Not even a little. It was clear she’d been waiting for him. She smiled again— bright, warm, and so happy it made something inside Jason ache.

“Wow — i knowi saidam hungry but, this way too much food…!” she laughed, shaking her head.

“Yep. didn't want you geting cranky on me ,beside its going to be a long night, so yeah.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, warm and familiar. “Come on, Rose — let’s get cosy.”

“Let’s!” She laughed, bright and easy, and stepped back to let him inside. The door clicked shut firmly behind them.

She never looked toward the elevator. She never knew Jason was standing there, pressed into the shadow of that plant, watching every single moment.

Everything in him stilled. Shattered. That’s her. That’s Rose. The woman I’ve been thinking about every minute of every day. And she was waiting for him. She smiled for him. She let him kiss her cheek. She pulled him inside like she belonged to him.

A cold, sickening wave rolled through him — disbelief, then hurt so sharp it made his chest ache, then anger, hot and blinding. She told me she was busy. She told me something came up. She said she couldn’t see me. And this — this — is what she was doing instead. She with this guy.

He stepped back and let the elevator doors slide closed.

INT. BUILDING LOBBY — NIGHT

Jason walks out. Doesn’t look up. The 10th floor light is on somewhere above — bright, warm, mocking. The watchman nods again. Jason nods back — hollowed out.

EXT. STREET — JASON’S CAR — NIGHT

He gets in. Sits for a long minute. Engine off . Mind on fire with questions. a pain, an ache like none other.

His phone lights up.

ROSE: Hey, I’m so sorry. Something came up at work and I can’t make it tonight. Can we do something tomorrow? I’m really sorry, Jason.

That’s it. No details. No names. No explanation.

He stares at it. Reads Can we do tomorrow? twice.

Something came up at work.

And a few hours later, she was at her door with another guy.

He locks his phone. Tosses it onto the seat.

JASON: — quiet, hollow — “Yeah.”

He starts the car. No music. Drives back toward the hotel in silence. Every mile he thinks about texting back. Asking her ,confronting her, Every time he continues to drive on— and he doesn’t.

INT. HOTEL ROOM — LATER

Keys drop onto the dresser. Jacket slung over a chair. He doesn’t turn on the main light.

Jason walks over to his pent house window. His mind still on fire, he looks out at the city lights. Thousands of them. None of them his as he stood looking out at them.

His phone buzzes once again, face-down on the bedside table where he tossed it. Probably her. Probably another apology.

He doesn’t check. Doesn’t move. Just stands there looking out at the City lights.