Flowers for My Grave

“Lucas, where are you? I’m not feeling well. Can you hurry?” I asked urgently.There was a brief silence on the other end before a woman's voice spoke. “Lucas is busy right now. I’ll have him call you back.” I froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down my spine. It was Ariana Venti, Lucas's first love, the woman he had always yearned to marry. The call remained connected as I heard the announcement echoing in the hallway: “Ms. Ariana Venti please report to the obstetrics department, room 15.” Before I could respond, Ariana abruptly ended the call. My hand went limp as I clutched my phone, my mind reeling from what I had just heard. Ariana? In obstetrics? Why was Lucas accompanying Ariana to the obstetrics department? He knew how urgent my condition was, so why was he with her? A tremor coursed through me as despair set in. I crumpled to the floor as tears streamed down my cheeks.Whether it was psychological or the pollen I had inhaled, I felt the symptoms of my a

When I entered the house, Lucas was still sitting on the floor, staring blankly ahead. By his feet lay the bouquet I had prepared for him—a surprise that had long since withered beyond recognition. Empty bottles of alcohol cluttered the table, their contents drained hours ago. Lucas picked up his phone and dialed my number over and over again yet it would always go straight to voicemail. He mumbled softly to himself, “Where did you go, Clara? Why aren’t you answering? You’ve always hated it when people don’t pick up their phones… Your medicine is still here with me…” I sat beside him, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. “I’m right here. But you can’t see me anymore. You’ll never see me again.” In the dead of night, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID flashed the name: Ariana. I looked away, my eyes brimming with tears. He answered, “What is it?” From the other end of the line, came Ariana’s voice. “Is Clara upset? Do you want me to help explain things?” “No,

I couldn’t understand what he intended to do, and fearing for his safety, I hurriedly followed him. The streets were empty, with people avoiding the rain. Only Lucas ran through the downpour, oblivious to the world around him, drawing curious stares from passersby. I furrowed my brow. This wasn’t like him at all. In my memories, he had always been gentle and courteous, never losing control of his emotions. The man before me looked utterly unfamiliar.Lucas dashed home and headed straight for the balcony. He grabbed the flowerpot near the railing and carefully wiped away the dirt that clung to it. I stood nearby, momentarily stunned by the sight of the pot. This was the very pot we had bought when we first married, and it had once contained seeds for red roses. Lucas had said then, “I will never fall in love with you. You know why I married you.” I laughed softly as I replied, “I don’t believe that. Let’s see how it plays out. I bet you’ll love me passionately, just l

Troy paused at the sight of Lucas. “What are you doing here? This doesn’t concern you. You should get as far away as possible from here.”Lucas froze and murmured to himself, “Yes, the last person Clara wants to see right now is me. I’m a murderer. I’ve not only killed my wife but also my child.”He suddenly lunged at Troy, desperation etched across his face. “Please, Troy, call Clara and tell her to come back. I promise I won’t have anything to do with her. But just get her to come back!”As he spoke, he fumbled with his phone, then thrust it toward Troy. “Look, I’ve called her so many times, but she won’t answer. She must be really angry with me. If you call her, she’ll definitely pick up! You’ve always been her rock. Please help me!”Troy frowned, his frustration evident. “I’ll say this one last time: Clara is gone. Stop this madness!”Without another word, Lucas clutched the report tightly and walked away, dejected. But as he left, I caught snippets of his murmured pleas