After we had the conversation that day, I thought Sean would get the message and leave. I did not expect him to still stick around and follow me wherever I went. However, I completely ignored him and acted as if he was not there.
One day, Victor said that he felt like he was having a fever. I placed my palm against my forehead. Then, I put it against Victor’s forehead.
“I don’t think so. It feels like our temperatures are about the same.”
Before I could finish, a grumpy voice called out from above my head, “What are the two of you doing?”
Sean was fuming as he squeezed between me and Victor. His eyes blazed with hostility as he stared at
Victor.
“What’s the matter with you? Why can’t you keep your hands off the lady?”
I smiled at Victor awkwardly. Then, I snapped at Sean, ‘What does it have to do with you? Sean Chandler, aren’t you being a bit too nosy?”
“I’m being nosy? He put his hand on your forehead! He’s clearly taking advantage of you. What is with you, Ms. Williams? Don’t you know that it’s only proper for people of the opposite gender to keep some distance from each other?”
“If you were aware of that, what about all the things you did with Evelyn?” I thought.
I linked arms with Victor and said, “With the relationship Victor and I share, what he did isn’t considered taking advantage of me. Sean, did you think I would stay single forever after leaving you?”
Sean was momentarily stunned. Then, he muttered, “What do you mean? Maisie, you… You and him…”
Just as I was about to respond, the earth started shaking violently all of a sudden. I realized it was an aftershock, and I instinctively dashed for the exit.
I had only taken at most two strides when there was a loud crash. My vision turned black. I thought I was going to die there and then. Yet, I opened my eyes and saw Sean’s face.
I wiped off the dust from my face, which was making me choke a little. Then, I noticed that Sean was blocking a heavy object that was supposed to land on me with his body.
I shook his shoulders. “Sean, don’t fall asleep. Wake up! Don’t sleep.”
He slowly squinted his eyes open. “Maisie, I’m so glad that you’re alright.”
He beamed. “Maisie, I like you so much. I’m so glad I’ve been given the chance to meet you. Thank you for staying by my side all these years, and thank you for letting me have you as my wife for some time.
“I know I’ve hurt you deeply, but I’ve never lied to you. The love that I have for you is real.”
His voice was gradually growing faint, and his breathing was ragged. “Maisie…”
“Stop, Sean. Stop talking. Now’s not the time to say these things. We’ll get out of here. We’ll be fine,
Sean.”
