The Nonchalant Husband

 2: The Nonchalant Husband 

Day 1 /365 Days

VICKY 

"I have congestive heart failure... I'm dying, Williams..."

It felt like a huge load had been lifted from my chest. Williams was still in bed. I could only see his back and not his reaction to what I'd just said.

"You have what?" He asked, snorting like me being sick wasn't important to him. Or he couldn't care less. 

"Congestive heart failure," I repeated. "After I fainted at the mall, they had to call an ambulance, and rushed me to the hospital. The doctors ran scans, and when the results came back, they told me I—"

"You fainted at the mall?" Williams scoffed.

I paused, staring at his back, confusion all over my face. Was that the only thing he picked up from what I said?

"Yes... my body was weak and stressed, I guess."

"Stressed? Oh, please. You just said you have some heart bullshit. That's why you fainted—not because of stress."

"Is that all you have to say?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Won't you ask me how I'm feeling? I said I'm dying and you don't even care!"

Williams stood up from the bed, grabbed his phone and car keys, and walked out. I rushed after him. When I got to the living room, my sister was already there.

"Vicky..." Valerie pulled me into a tight hug.

"You can't die. You're all I have in this world. You're my other half, remember? Tell me it's a prank." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. It broke my heart that she felt this way—and even more that my own husband didn't react at all.

"I'm fine," I mumbled, but she hugged me even tighter, almost choking me.

"No, you're not. Let's go to the hospital. We need to start your treatment immediately—"

"She said she's fine! Don't stress it," Williams interrupted with a frown. Valerie immediately let go of me, like she was following his orders.

"Have you told him?" she whispered.

I answered loudly, making sure Williams could hear.

"Yes! I told my husband that his wife is dying. I told him I have congestive heart failure. I told him—and all he cared about was that I fainted at the mall."

"You fainted at the mall?" Valerie asked, like it was beneath me to even be shopping at the mall.

I didn't answer. I didn't need to. I just walked closer to my husband, who was sipping juice like nothing had happened.

"Yes, she did! Why are we even talking about this?" Williams asked.

"Because your wife has a terminal illness, and you're acting like you don't give a fuck!" I finally screamed. 

"Because I don't give a fuck!" he snapped. "So what if you have a terminal illness? Are you the first person in the whole wide world to be sick? No and you won't be the last! Jeez, all this noise for what?"

"Williams, don't say that to her. She's genuinely hurt. We should stand with her right now. Don't be so harsh. She has always run to us for help, so we need to help her even more now," Valerie said gently, moving closer to Williams like she was trying to show something off.

I didn't like the way she said I always depended on them for help, but I just stood there, drowning in my tears. But then again, she always knew how to make things escalate between Williams and I whenever she witnessed one of our disagreements. 

"Why can't you be like your sister?" he finally said. 

"We are two different people... We just look alike. Why are you being like this today?"

"I mean... maybe it's the universe punishing you," Williams continued coldly. "You got married and refused to give your husband a child, and you're getting excited for an anniversary? It's ridiculous."

"I was pregnant once..."

Williams chuckled like it was a joke. "Pregnant? You lost the baby before it could even be counted as a real pregnancy. As far as I'm concerned, that was all for show. There was no baby."

"There was!" I shouted, tears falling now. "And I lost that baby because of you!"

"I'm not doing this," he muttered, heading for the door. "This house is too full of drama."

"Yeah, walk away. That's all you're good at!" I yelled.

"Before I go," he turned slightly and gave me a look that stripped me to the bone, "you may look like your sister, but you'll never be her. Valerie is confident, smart and fun to be around. She knows how to show off her beauty, while you, it's like you try to turn me off on purpose." 

"You have no right to say these things to me." 

"Why? Because it's the truth. Valerie is just a perfectly made woman. It's like I married the wrong twin." 

"Williams how dare you!" I yelped, my poor heart felt like it was being cut in two. 

He glanced at her, and his lips curled into a smirk. "She's not afraid to take what she wants either."

Valerie looked down shyly, almost flattered. Then she turned to me and said with a smile, "Come on, Williams. You know Vicky's always struggled with self-worth. She tells me all the time how lucky she is to have bagged a ten like you. She's beautiful, sure... because she looks like me. I mean, we're twins, but her boring personality and poor dressing makes her a five."

"You're right," Williams grinned. "I'd say you are a ten. You're just perfect," Williams added.

She touched my arm lightly. "Don't mind him, sis. You're trying, even though you're not perfect."

I couldn't even say anything—it felt like I was in their moment. Like I was the third wheel in this love affair. 

"Ugh, I can't deal with this madness..." Williams grabbed his keys and stormed out.

My legs were shaking uncontrollably. I felt shattered. I reached for the couch and collapsed onto it. Valerie helped steady me.

"Why don't you come stay at my place tonight? This is a lot for you to go through alone. Just crash with me," she suggested softly.

"That's a good idea," I whispered.

"I'll pack a few of your things."

She hurried upstairs, and I was left alone with my thoughts again.

"I wanted today to be perfect..." I sobbed. Ten years with Williams felt like ten thousand years in a desert without water. It had been draining, but somehow, I managed. Today, I just wanted to breathe. I wanted us to have a good time. To look back at our journey and try to make it work. But this terminal illness ruined everything.

"Come on... let's go."

"Thank you for coming to get me, Val..."

"You don't have to thank me. And you don't have to say anything either. Just relax at my place until you're ready to come back home. I'm sure Williams was just overwhelmed. He'll come to his senses soon," she said softly.

But her words fell on deaf ears. My eyes were glued to the window, my thoughts circling the doctor's words.

You may have only 365 days left.

I hadn't told Valerie or Williams that part. I didn't want to scare them. Or maybe... only Valerie would've been scared. Williams? I doubted it.

"Home sweet home," Valerie announced as she parked the car.

This really was our home before we were orphaned. Our parents left us this house. Valerie wanted to sell it when I moved in with Williams, but we decided to keep it.

I lived here during the first three years of my marriage. It was the three of us. We were a small, happy family. But that didn't last long—Williams turned into someone else.

"Get some rest. I'll bring you some water."

I wanted to take a good look at the house. It had been so long. The hallway leading to our room looked the same—except for one thing. The door to the storage room was open.

That door was always closed.

I stepped closer and pushed it fully open. It wasn't a storage room anymore. It was a nursery. A baby's room. But... there was no baby here. At least, not that I knew of.

"Valerie? Valerie!" I called, my voice soft but urgent.

She rushed down, panting, like she knew exactly where I'd gone.

"Vic... I was going to tell you today. But when you told me about your illness, I thought it was the wrong time. I didn't want to make you feel worse..."

"You’re having a baby and you kept this from me?" I asked in disbelief. "But … this doesn’t make any sense."

"I’m sorry... I just didn’t know how to tell you and I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t upset you since you had that miscarriage a few years ago."

"I'm your sister. You should've told me the moment you found out. Judging by this room, it's been a while. Why would I feel sad? I'm so happy for you, Chummy." I pulled her into a hug, tears falling from my eyes—but this time, they were tears of joy. It was the first time I smiled genuinely all day. It felt like I had been redeemed from the heaviness in my heart.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't want you to feel bad... and I was ashamed."

"Feel bad? Val, this is good news! A plus one to our family. So... tell me—is it a boy or a girl? Who's the father? I want to know everything!" I giggled, spinning her around.

"One at a time, sissy," she laughed as I helped her sit.

"It's a boy. His father is someone I met years ago. Things got serious last year, and he promised to marry me. The baby came unexpectedly, but he's ready to take full responsibility."

"Oh my goodness! Val, this is amazing. This is the best thing that happened to me today. You've made me so proud. I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you so much, sis."

"You fooled us all so well! You don't even look pregnant," I teased.

"Well, I've been hiding it." She raised her bubu gown slightly, revealing a tiny bump. I gasped—it was so beautiful.

"My baby sister is not so little anymore."

"Baby sister? We're twins," she giggled.

"Well, I'm older by a few minutes."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's get some rest. It's almost midnight—you must be exhausted."

"It's almost midnight? So much for a wedding anniversary," I sighed.

"Hey... you promised not to be sad. Come on. I'm here for you—and I'm sure he'll come around tomorrow."

"You think so?"

"Yes. He already texted me saying he'll come get you tomorrow."

“Hmm,” I answered, wondering why my husband texted my sister and not me.