Elara
A week passed and I had just gotten back from work. I went to work more often to avoid breathing in the air that stank of a rotten marriage. Ethan took a medical leave of absence for two weeks which I felt was extremely unnecessary.
I walked into the living room, exhausted from work only to see my mother-in-law in our house and Samantha??? Oh, good Lord.
They looked like people who just mourned someone closest to them so I guessed they must've gotten Ethan's results and as usual Samantha was the first to throw how much she knew of my husband in my face. “There you are, Elara.” Samantha got up from beside Ethan and came over to my side, holding my right arm. “The results came back a few hours ago and it said… Ethan has kidney failure and needs to undergo a kidney transplant very soon.”
I shrugged my arm out of her grip, “Okay??” Ethan sharply looked up at me like he was looking at a stranger, “What do you mean by that, Elara?” I widened my eyes innocently, raised my eyebrows and raised both my hands. “I was simply waiting for the rest of the story because apparently she wasn't done talking. Or if she was, wouldn't a transplant fix everything but yet you all look like you haven't eaten in days so what else was I supposed to say?”
Samantha moved over to Ethan and sat on the arm rest, maintaining only a small distance between them. “Ethan, calm down. She didn't mean it that way.”
Then she turned to me while my mother-in-law just sneered at me like she wanted to swallow my nonchalant *ss whole. “The problem is there isn't any donor available. The doctors have searched even the neighboring hospital and it's still the same.” I puckered my lips and nodded slowly like I was just finally understanding the reason they were all moody. “Hmm… we'll talk about this later. I'm starving, ughh.” I walked past them as their heads turned in shock at my attitude and went to our room to get freshened up.
Minutes later, I sat in front of the television, watching my favorite series while I ate noodles. Then Ethan blocked my vision and I looked up at him, confused. “You made dinner and didn't make it for the rest of us?” Ethan asked. I raised my eyebrows, “Had you guys not eaten?” “What do you mean by that?” Ethan retorted. “I got home late to meet you all at home so I expected you guys to have already had dinner. Forgive my manners, now if you’ll excuse me…” “What's with the attitude since the day I fainted, Elara?” I put on an extremely confused look, “Attitude? Where?” Samantha walked down from the stairs, “Elara be careful with him. He's not at his best.” Then Mary came down too.
I wasn't shocked to see them. From the moment I came home to meet them in our home that late, I already figured they were staying over. “Why wouldn't you cook dinner for your husband and besides, didn't you also think we’d eat?” Mary asked, her voice dripping with hate. I always knew she never liked me but the old me always worked so hard to win her heart believing that she'll eventually come around. Come around, my *ss! I looked around at the three of them, plastering my innocent face more firmly. “You all should chill. You're acting like I took the gas and cooking utensils away. Samantha could cook while she's at it,” I pointed my hand in Samantha's direction. “What exactly is that supposed to mean? At what?” Ethan asked. “While she's playing the role of a virtuous wife,” I said, taking food into my mouth. I was almost done eating.
Samantha put on that silly pity face of hers, “Elara…” My mother-in-law snapped, “Have you forgotten that Ethan married you? You're his wife and should fulfill your duties accordingly.” I acted shocked, “So finally someone remembers?” I stood up, taking my plate along with me. “But it's too late. I've got work early tomorrow, so I've got to go to sleep. You know what they say, ‘early to bed, early to rise’.” I walked to the kitchen to quickly rinse the utensils I used and placed them back in the utensils rack. I came out and still saw them watching me like I was an imported alien.
I winked at Samantha before I went up to the room, “You got this girl!” The next day, Ethan woke me up early on the premise of a family meeting. I rolled in bed groggily, “Can't it wait?” “Elara, come on. Let's do it now before you wake up late and have an excuse to be absent.”
I turned to the other side of the bed, pulling the duvet over my head. Honestly, what was wrong with these people? Was it now a crime to get a few extra minutes of sleep? “Ethan, it's still early,” I mumbled beneath the covers. “Whatever family emergency you want to discuss can wait until I've had enough sleep to function like a normal human being.” “It's not an emergency,” he replied impatiently. “It's a family meeting, Elara.” “Exactly. And families can meet without me, can't they?” I heard him let out an exasperated sigh, followed by the sound of his footsteps approaching the bed. A moment later, he tugged at the duvet. I tightened my grip. “Elara.” “Ethan.” “Get up.” “I'm up,” I lied, keeping my eyes shut. “Then open your eyes.” “That's too much work.” For a few seconds, the room fell silent. I could practically feel his irritation radiating from where he stood.
If this were my previous life, I would have found his displeasure unbearable. I would have hurried to obey him, terrified that a little disagreement might cause another argument. Now? His annoyance was practically my morning entertainment.
Eventually, I heard him walk away. I smiled beneath the duvet, pleased with my small victory, until his voice came from the doorway again. “If you don't come downstairs now, I'll have to come back here.” I threw the covers off immediately. “Okay! Okay! I'm coming. There's no need to threaten a sick man with unnecessary movement.” He stared at me, his expression darkening.
I pressed my lips together to stop myself from laughing and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My gaze briefly wandered to the bedside table, where my phone lay beside the half-empty glass of water I'd left there the previous night.
For a moment, I considered checking the time, but I decided against it. Whatever time it was, it certainly wasn't the hour I wanted to be awake. As I slipped my feet into my flip-flops, I glanced at Ethan. He looked different lately. The illness had made him more irritable, and there were faint shadows beneath his eyes. Yet, somehow, he still carried himself with the same entitlement as before, as though everyone around him owed him something simply because he existed.
It was almost fascinating. Here was a man whose life had suddenly become uncertain, yet he still expected the world to revolve around him. I stood and stretched my arms above my head, deliberately taking my time. “Are we going to stand here all morning?” he asked. I smiled at him, “Of course not, darling. Lead the way.” I yawned and sighed. Then I followed Ethan downstairs.
This didn't happen in my previous life… And so I wondered what they were up to this time.