BECOMING HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

The Reflection

The Reflection.

NATHAN'S POV.

I stared at her but then she turned on her heels and ran away. No, it just can't be.

With every step, the weight of exhaustion pulled me into my office. With my hands gripping the edges of my desk I leaned against it and inhaled deeply. I was pulled down like a heavy anchor by fatigue, and for a while,, I just stood there looking blankly at the papers all over the place.

My mind was hazy and my eyes felt grainy. Ever since the accident I had been having trouble sleeping. Not since I saw her. My mind went back to that moment. The woman on the streets.

Fiona.

At first, I had assumed it was her. I was hoping it was her. But It couldn't be. My wife—my wife, Fiona had spent the last two months in a coma. It was not real for her to be strolling along the street. She was supposed to be lying in the hospital bed with machines attached to her.

I had seen her though...or someone who had a striking resemblance to her. I took a deep breath. Like a train, the thought struck me. Could Fiona have woken up and managed to get out of the hospital without anyone noticing?

I immediately dismissed the possibility. I had been concealing her illness from her relatives. I couldn't afford for them to know. It would lead to too much controversy and trouble. I raked my hand through my hair in an attempt to concentrate and make sense of everything.

But it was not feasible. Too many questions and insufficient answers were rushing into my head. Who was that woman? Why did she look like Fiona so much?

I was interrupted by the knock on the door. I was too exhausted to be impolite but I didn't want to be interrupted.

" Come in," I said in a raspy voice.

As the door opened, Brian entered with his typical effortless smile."Hey, man. How's it going?” he asked in a casual tone as if he hadn't just walked in on me as I stood there deep in thought.

I was too preoccupied with my own mental chaos to respond right away. He noticed the tension in my shoulders and looked at me.

He laughed as he crossed the room to take a seat on the chair across from my desk and said." You look like hell."

"I noticed, “I mumbled. "Thanks for the reminder."

Brian folded his arms and reclined in his chair. "I understand. One week from now is that family dinner. Haven't you been avoiding that as well?"

Rubbing my face I sighed. The family dinner was the one issue that had been bothering me for weeks. I had informed everyone about Fiona's trip to France for her beauty treatments. It was the only way to buy myself some time even though it had been a lie.

I couldn't show up alone. I was not able to answer the questions. And I could never possibly come with her in this manner. Not when she wasn't conscious.

"I'll go." I said finally, " But I'm not sure how to account for her absence."

Brian arched an eyebrow. "They have always focused more on the show than the content so it's not like they're going to ask a lot of questions, are they?"

I didn't answer. He was correct. My in-laws were more concerned with maintaining their own reputation than with the facts. Even so, the burden of lies was growing stronger every day.

Brian gave me a look." What's up, dude. You've been acting strangely lately. Is everything okay?"

Exhaustion and frustration flooded my chest as I looked up at him. I gazed at him while leaning forward and holding onto the edge of the desk.

I said in a low voice "I saw someone today. Someone who looked so much like Fiona"

Brian's brows were knitted. "What do you mean?"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I'm not sure. While driving home I noticed a woman who reminded me of Fiona, Bri. She was a perfect replica of her. The same eyes and hair. The way she moved, the way she walked." I stopped and combed my hair once more.

But it's not possible. Fiona has gone into a coma. I have been hiding the fact that she has been in that f*****g hospital for two months from her family. I have been lying about her. I have been making every effort to conceal this.

But why in the world would I see someone who resembles her, going about as if nothing were wrong? Initially, Brian remained silent. He simply gazed at me, his face unreadable. Then he laughed but it was a little laugh that didn't fit the gravity of my tone.

" You're thinking too much about this, Nathan. There has been a lot of stress on you. It's most likely just someone who makes you think of her. Or perhaps you're just seeing things. You are overworking yourself."

I was about to argue when the words got stuck in my throat. Possibly he was correct. Perhaps I was daydreaming. The pressure of everything—the lie, the impending dinner, and the ongoing concern about Fiona—was beginning to get to me, and I hadn't been sleeping well after all.

" Maybe you're right," I muttered, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of my mind.

I got up and poured drinks for both of us. Even though Brian didn't say anything I could still see the worry in his eyes as he took his glass.

It was a hazy rest of the day. Despite going through the motions my mind was constantly racing. After everything had calmed down later that evening I ended up back in the hospital.

As usual, the sterile smell of Fiona's room hit me as soon as I entered. She was constantly reminded that she was still alive and stuck in this life-or-death situation by the faint background beeps from the monitors.

I took her hand and sat down next to her bed. Even though her skin was cold I didn't mind. I had become used to it. It had become normal for me to sit here and talk to her any time I came to see her, as if she could hear me, as if she might wake up at any moment and things would return to normal.

As I held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, I felt the weight of everything bearing down on me; tears filled my eyes. My voice broke and whispered," Fiona, I'm here...I'll hold on. I'll wait for you to get back to me for as long as it takes."

I kept thinking about that woman I had seen on the street, though, as I gazed down at Fiona's unconscious form. Was it something more than my imagination or could it have been Fiona?

I closed my eyes to get rid of the thoughts…. If that lady wasn't Fiona, who then is she?