g black hair shining effortlessly from the sunlight, her beautiful face

eing her face would probably not remind her of how miserable she was so sh

her abdomen but that would be due to her starvation in the process. The worry gnawed at her insides, making it difficult to focus

adlines had consumed most of his time and energy. Elaine had noticed how much he seemed to be carrying the weight of the world o

approached Richard, who was glued over his laptop, engrossed in a flurry of em

a moment?" she asked, her

ee I'm busy?" His voice carried a tinge of annoyance, causing Elaine's heart to sink. Since he came back from work,

ard," she pleaded, her ey

ation crossing his features. "Elaine! Can't you see how busy

ortive response from her husband, but his reaction crushed her. She had tried to be patient, understanding

uivering, "I need you to listen to you Ple

m your wife and I demand that you listen to me" she ye

aptop and finally met Elaine's gaze for the first time in a very long while. Her breath instantly stopped

have all the time in the world so hu

l him the news. This was a man who wouldn't bother if she was thrown to the

gaze was fixed outside. Of course, he wouldn't look at her, it was as if

Richard faced, but she couldn't help but feel neglected and unheard. She

u come here so that you can cry in fr

int of sympathy simply because you are crying out of

hat the tears slipped out of her

to say, please leave. I have

oom without looking back leaving behind a

e cancer." It felt as if her world had come crashing down around her, leaving her with nothing but fear and uncertainty.

ity. She thought about the life she had lived since she got married, it had nev

on the door. It was Mary, a formidable woman with a knac

d out, gentle yet firm. Elaine hastily wiped away he

Elaine replied, her voi

d into the room. Her eyes scanned Elai

hing troubling you," Martha sa

onsuming her thoughts but she pushed them back, what was the point of telling Mary when she couldn't tell Richard, would she b

ring you, you can always te

g Mother?” s

her into an embrace and Elaine’s he

the embrace, Mary stepped back, h

hing I need your help with,"

t mother?”

am very hung

d she hadn't made dinner and ru

she stepped out of the kitche

you would like me

et, I have been having cramps in my l

will attend to you” she answered. Elaine followed

permeated the air, until

the room into the kitchen o

disappointed in herself

ending to her mother-in-law's needs that she had neglected the meal cooking on the stove. Mary stormed into the kitchen and imme

e, Elaine?" Mary exclaimed, he

r mother-in-law's stern eyes. "I'm so sorry, Mother. I

not paying enough attention. You should have known better. He could you burn the dinner meant

e the perfect wife, but it seemed that no matter what she did, she could never meet

food. He took in the scene before him, the smoke-filled room, his mother's disapproving st

ichard demanded, his voic

concern. "Richard, dear, it seems your wife has managed to burn di

he looked at Elaine, his

me, clean up this

, but it seemed that her efforts were constantly overshadowed by Mary's disapproval. She glanced at her

eaded for the front door, his voice filled with anger. "I

ddle of the kitchen, f

would eat outside, well done Elaine” Mary cro