Once, my paranoid love

While glancing in the mirror, I couldn’t help but bite my lower lip. The reflection staring back at me revealed a mixture of emotions-nervousness, uncertainty, and a hint of determination. I looked down at my nightdress, the thin fabric clinging to my frame. Through the nightgown, I could see the outline of my inner dress, a stark reminder of the unexpected situation I found myself in.

As I continued to scrutinize my reflection, my thoughts raced. While Mr. Huston was in the shower, I needed to gather my thoughts and gather any information that might help me make sense of this reunion. The questions that swirled in my mind were relentless, and I knew that I couldn’t simply wait for answers to come to me.

While Mr. Huston showered, I knew I had a small window of opportunity. I didn’t think he would bother if I pretended to fall asleep; after all, he believed I was already resting. With that thought in mind, I jumped into bed as quickly as I could and pulled the blanket up to my chin, feigning slumber.

Under the cover of the darkened room, I closed my eyes and waited. The sound of the running water from the bathroom served as a backdrop for my thoughts. I knew I had to be careful.

**

Derek carefully slid down alongside Elena, the bed creaking slightly under his weight. He moved slowly, not wanting to startle her from her apparent slumber. As he settled into his spot, he couldn’t help but notice that Elena had snatched the entire duvet, cocooning herself from head to toe.

“What should I do now?” Derek pondered silently, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty. He couldn’t see her face and couldn’t gauge her emotions. Was she afraid of him? The question hung in the air, unanswered and heavy.

Derek’s gaze wandered over to Elena’s back, which faced him. The blanket covered her entirely, leaving only a silhouette to suggest her presence. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts that had plagued him since their reunion.

The room remained shrouded in silence, a quiet that seemed to stretch on indefinitely. Derek couldn’t help but feel a sense of disconnection, as if an invisible barrier separated them. He wondered if Elena’s actions were a reflection of her own uncertainty and her own fear of confronting the past.

With narrowed eyes, he glanced at her back, his curiosity getting the better of him. He couldn’t decipher her intentions and couldn’t understand why she had retreated beneath the covers. The gap between them, both physical and emotional, felt insurmountable.

Derek considered his options. Should he reach out to her and break the silence that hung between them? The desire to bridge the divide and reconnect was strong, but he hesitated, unsure of how his presence would be received.

Derek’s gaze fixed on the ceiling as he wrestled with his own thoughts. The room was cloaked in the heavy silence.

‘She is my wife,’ he thought, his brow furrowing with uncertainty. ‘But I’m not sure why I’m so anxious. We actually don’t know each other.’

‘Did she have someone in her life?’ He wondered, his thoughts racing. ‘Did she love someone?’

Derek took a deep breath, trying to quell the unease that gnawed at him. The complexities of their reunion were overwhelming, the past and present colliding in a whirlwind of emotions.

‘I know, whatever I did, it was bad,’ he conceded to himself, his voice a quiet admission of his own misdeeds. ‘This reaction is normal for her; even if someone else were in her place, she would do the same to ignore it.’

Derek took a deep breath and moved to his left side as Eleans’s was sleeping on the right side.

**

Elena’s POV.

The room had grown a touch chilly, and I wrapped myself up tightly in the blanket. My thoughts swirled in the quiet, contemplative space. ‘Isn’t it possible for him to tell the maid and ask for another blanket?’ I wondered, feeling his restless movements on the bed beside me.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

As the seconds ticked by, I couldn’t help but wonder about the appropriateness of the situation. Should I offer him the extra warmth of the blanket? The unspoken tension in the room weighed heavily on me.

I decided to take a small, cautious step. I gently turned around to face Mr. Huston, who had been facing the other way. He could have easily asked for a blanket from one of the maids, but he hadn’t, and I couldn’t ignore the palpable discomfort in the room.

It was evident that I had been the one to snatch his personal belongings-the warmth of the blanket, to be specific. After ensuring I’d left a portion for him, I repositioned myself and tried to regain a sense of calm.

A minute or so had passed in this silent dance, and my curiosity got the better of me. I turned slightly to see Mr. Huston, wondering why he hadn’t taken the offered warmth. Had he fallen into a deep slumber so quickly?

I cautiously sat up, careful not to disturb him, and peered around the side of the blanket. Mr. Huston’s eyes were indeed shut, and he appeared to be in a peaceful state of rest. It was as though he had embraced the comfort of sleep after a long and tiring day.

I hesitated for a moment, torn between leaving him undisturbed and wanting to ensure his comfort.

In the end, a sense of empathy compelled me to act. I couldn’t ignore the fact that he had chosen not to take the blanket when he clearly needed it. Quietly, I was careful not to jostle the bed, and I approached his side.

With gentle care, I draped the duvet over him, ensuring he was snug and warm. The act was a simple one, a wordless gesture of compassion and understanding. Then I returned to my place beside him.

To be continued.