Self reflection

Later that evening, Yvonne waited outside the small apartment building she shared with David. Her intentions were simple; she needed explanations for the way he treated her that morning.

Soon enough, he arrived in a surprisingly luxurious car. Someone had driven him over, but Yvonne couldn't see through the tinted window. The sleek vehicle, a sharp contrast to their modest lifestyle, hinted at secrets David had been keeping from her.

She watched as David's sweet smile towards the person in the car turned into a scowl as he caught sight of her. The transformation was jarring, a painful reminder of the emotional distance that had grown between them.

David sighed in exasperation. “Women should greet their men in sexy clothing,” he muttered under his breath, clearly irritated. Yvonne, however, preferred simplicity. She wore a simple knee-length floral-pattern pyjama set, comfortable and familiar.

David mentally scoffed, comparing Yvonne to his soon-to-be wife, who went to any length to look gorgeous for him all the time. He recalled the changes having a child had done to Yvonne's once perfect demeanour. She never got over the loss and had been living her life for him since then, and now David had reached the height he craved.

He no longer needed Yvonne. This fact made him see a tiny bit of rationality and decided to take things easy with her that evening. She had at least been useful all along. He had his fair share of guilt and resentment for that situation, after all. It was one of the reasons he had endured her presence all this while, but that is a story for another time.

Seeing him walk past her, Yvonne was stunned by David for the second time in a day. Did he not see her?

“David?” she called as she shut the door behind them.

That evening, faced with Yvonne's distraught demeanour, David expressed how he had been stressed with the demands from his workplace, which caused him to flip at her that morning. “It’s been tough at work, Yvonne. The pressure is immense. I took it out on you,” he said, his tone devoid of genuine remorse.

He ended his unreasonable excuse by packing up a few valuables he had in the house. “I’ll be leaving for a business trip this evening,” he announced, his eyes avoiding hers.

“I will keep in touch and be back in a month,” David said and left, not even sparing a glance back.

Yvonne couldn't explain her feelings about the situation and just watched him leave without even saying ‘sorry’ for his behaviour. She felt a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion swirling within her.

Having been humiliated by her fiancé in front of his company building and just watched him leave for a sudden trip they hadn't discussed, Yvonne felt a surge of insecurity wash over her. The harsh words and dismissive tone he used in front of his colleagues cut deeper than she cared to admit. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of inadequacy that followed, and as she stood there in the middle of the room, she impulsively blamed herself. Maybe she had lost her touch. Maybe she wasn’t the woman who once fascinated him.

Yvonne couldn’t help but ponder what had gone wrong. Their relationship had started with passion and excitement, but now it felt like she was just a fixture in his life, easily overlooked and taken for granted. She wondered if she had changed in some fundamental way if she had become less attractive or less interesting.

In a moment of self-reflection, Yvonne walked to her bedroom mirror and scrutinized her reflection as she pulled at her dress from behind to make it accentuate her figure. She noticed her long, auburn hair still shone with a healthy lustre. Her skin was smooth and glowing, and her figure was as slender and fit as ever. There was no visible flaw in her appearance. But perhaps, she thought, it wasn’t just about looks. Maybe it was about her actions, her choices, her very presence.

Memories of their early days flooded her mind. The late-night conversations, the shared dreams, the promises whispered in the dark. Where had all of that gone? She remembered how David used to look at her with admiration, how he hung on her every word. Now, he barely noticed her. The realization was a bitter pill to swallow.

Determined to reclaim some semblance of control and possibly rekindle the old spark, Yvonne decided to indulge in some retail therapy. She would have her monthly allowance soon, and what better way to boost her confidence than by adorning herself with new, beautiful clothes? If she could remind her fiancé of the woman he fell in love with, maybe things could go back to how they used to be.

As she planned her shopping trip, Yvonne resolved to focus on more than just her appearance. She wanted to rediscover the parts of herself that had been buried under the weight of her insecurities and David's indifference. Maybe it was time to pursue those hobbies she had abandoned, to reconnect with old friends, to find joy in her own company again.

The next morning, Yvonne woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. She started her day with a long run in the park, letting the cool morning air clear her mind. The rhythmic pounding of her feet on the pavement was cathartic, each step a declaration of her intent to reclaim her life. She felt the tension of the previous day begin to melt away.

After her run, she showered and dressed in her favourite casual outfit, a pair of well-fitted jeans and a soft, pastel sweater. She headed to her favourite café, a quaint little place with cosy seating and the best coffee in town. As she sipped her latte, she pulled out a notebook and began jotting down thoughts and ideas and plans for her future that didn't entirely revolve around David, but hopefully make him realize the woman he fell in love with and they go back to where they started.

a relationship full of love and happiness.