His wife His prisoner

Chapter 5: The Weird control

CHAPTER 5. THE WEIRD FEELING .

I really could not sleep well that night.I was so tired and It was not the kind of tiredness that goes away after a few minutes of resting, this kind of tiredness just stayed with me.

Every time I closed my eyes, my mind started thinking again and would not stop. I kept thinking about Henry’s voice and the messages he sent me. They sounded like normal things, but they did not feel right to me anymore. I kept moving around and caressing my pillow, but nothing worked. I just lay there staring at the ceiling in the dark for hours.

By the time my alarm was supposed to ring, I was already wide awake and this has been happening a lot lately. I would wake up very early and feel very burdened, and I can't explain why I feel that way. But I know I do feel like that whenever something doesn't feel right or something is about to happen.

I took my bath, cleaned the room and I reached for my phone to check for messages, but there was nothing there to see. I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then I put it down and felt relieved.

That was when I knew something was wrong because I should not feel happy that he did not message me, but I was.

*********

I went down for breakfast, and Selena immediately noticed I was tired before I even said anything. She was stirring her tea and looking at me with a serious face.

“You didn’t sleep,” she said.

I forced a small smile. “Is it that obvious?"I asked.

“You look like you were thinking too much all night,” she replied.

I sighed and looked at my plate. “Something like that.”

“Is it about work?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Just work,"I added.

Selena did not say anything else right away. She just kept looking at me across the table. I hated that look because it made me feel like I was lying to her.

“When things start small, you should pay attention,” she said finally.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Most people wait until a problem is big before they do anything. By then, it is hard to fix,” she said again.

I nodded, but I did not want to think about it. I told her I was fine, but my voice was very soft. Selena did not argue, but she did not look happy either, she finished her tea and left the kitchen. I also left for work too.

*******

When I got to the office, everything looked the same as always. The desks and the people were all there in their usual spots. I could hear the sound of people talking and typing on their keyboards. Nothing had changed on the outside, but I felt different inside. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart beat fast because I don't know what message I'll get or whose call will come in.

Around noon, my phone lit up on my desk. It was a message from Henry. I stared at his name for a few seconds before opening it.

“Who were you with this morning?” the message said.

I frowned. It was a strange question to ask out of nowhere. I typed back slowly.

“No one. I came straight to work.”

He replied almost instantly. “Good. Stay focused.”

I read it twice. It was a simple message, but it made me feel very uncomfortable and I became angry, but no one to vent my anger on and definitely not him. I just put the phone face down so I would not have to look at it.

“Ruby,” Clara said. She was standing by my desk with her arms crossed. “You have that look again,”she said.

“What look?” I asked, trying to act normal.

“The look you make when your phone says something you don't like,” she said.

“It’s nothing,” I said with a fake laugh.

“It’s not nothing,” Clara replied.

I looked around to make sure no one was listening to us. “He asks questions now. About where I am and who I am with."I said.

“And you think that is normal?” she asked.

“I don’t know. It sounds like he is worried, but it doesn't feel like that,” I said.

Clara leaned closer to me. “That is because it is control, not worry.”she said.

I did not want to believe her. I told her I did not want to overreact to a simple text message, but when I was alone I thought about it.

“There is a difference between someone caring and someone trying to boss you around,” Clara said.

********”

The rest of the day felt very long. I just kept thinking about what everyone said to me and for some reason I am beginning to find meaning to each word.

That evening, I left work early. I did not tell Henry I was leaving. I just packed my bag and walked out and by the time I got home, I just took a shower and came back to the living room.

“You’re early,” Selena said.

“I felt like leaving early,” I replied.

“How does that feel?” she asked.

“Strange,” I said. “But good."I added.

I sat down on the chair, and my phone buzzed immediately. My heart started beating fast. It was a message from Henry.

“You’re home early,” the message said.

I froze. I had not told him I was leaving. My mind went blank. How did he know? I typed back that I finished my work early.

“That’s good. I like knowing where you are,” he replied.

I was so shocked and dumbfounded.. I stared at the screen for a long time. Selena asked me what was wrong, but I could not speak and I even almost thought it was her who was giving the information about my movement but there's no way she would do that to me.

I realized then that something was very wrong and my quiet life is gradually changing.