“I am married now,” he told her. “There is no place for you in my life anymore.”
“You can’t do this to me. We can’t exist without each other,” she said with tears in her eyes.
He looked at her; he gazed at his beautiful friend who had been there with him every second of his life as far as he could remember. He did not know what to say to her or how to say. This was not easy for him as this would break them both. But this had to be done. He mustered all the courage he could and said, “You know that nobody in this world will understand our relationship. Our relationship is special. I am always going to cherish those moments whenever I saw you. Your every move, your every smile, your gaze; I always longed to see you and nourish you. There is nothing wrong with us, but that’s how it is. Don’t you know this?”
His words appeared so cold to her, and it hurt her badly. All she wanted was a mere acknowledgement of her existence in his life, and a few rare opportunities to see the world with him. She didn’t want much but a few words, now and then, telling her that she is a special girl. And that she is entitled to have a happy life too.
She said to him, “I wish you a happy life. Really, I wish you that. But you know the truth.” She paused for some time while he continued to look at her. She said, “You can forget anyone, but you can’t forget someone who resides in your heart and shares your soul with you.”
He knew that she was right. She shares his soul. But this had to be done. He looked at her in the mirror and touched the face in the mirror with his hands one last time. “Good bye, my dear friend,” he said and wiped away the lipstick he was wearing.
Epilogue
She still lurks in the shadows waiting to come out.
- Short Story:The Other Woman - November 7, 2017