He Chose Her Again

The drive home felt endless.

Anna gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Her eyes were swollen.

Her heart felt empty.

The city lights blurred through her tears.

Everything felt unreal.

This morning, she was still Anna Reed.

A woman with a broken marriage.

A woman still foolishly hoping her husband would love her one day.

But now…

She was Anna Reed.

A dying woman.

Six months.

Just six months.

Anna laughed bitterly.

What a cruel joke.

She had spent seven years chasing Noah’s love.

Seven years.

And now fate had given her only six months left.

The irony hurt.

By the time Anna reached home, night had already fallen.

The mansion stood tall and quiet.

Cold.

Beautiful.

Empty.

Just like her marriage.

Anna parked the car slowly.

She sat inside for a while.

Not moving.

Not breathing properly.

Her hands rested on the steering wheel.

Weak.

Trembling.

She didn’t want to go inside.

Because inside that house lived too many memories.

Too much pain.

Too much loneliness.

Still…

She forced herself out.

The moment she stepped inside, silence welcomed her.

The house was dark.

Noah wasn’t home.

Of course.

Anna smiled bitterly.

Where else would he be?

With Clara.

Again.

She slowly walked upstairs to their bedroom.

Every step felt heavy.

Her body felt weak.

The headache was back.

Sharp.

Painful.

She pressed her fingers against her temple.

It hurt.

Everything hurt.

She entered the bedroom and froze.

The room looked exactly the same.

Nothing had changed.

The bed.

The lamp.

The curtains.

Their wedding photo.

Anna’s eyes landed on it.

The picture showed her smiling brightly.

Noah stood beside her.

Cold as usual.

Even on their wedding day.

Anna walked toward the photo.

Her fingers touched the frame.

Back then…

She truly believed marriage would change things.

She believed love could melt ice.

She believed patience would win.

She was wrong.

Very wrong.

Tears filled her eyes again.

Anna took the photo down.

Then placed it face down.

She could not look at it anymore.

She changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the bed.

Then she stared at her phone.

Nothing.

No calls.

No messages.

Noah hadn’t called.

Not once.

Anna laughed quietly.

She had called him three times.

Three times.

And he never called back.

Because Clara was more important.

Because Clara always came first.

Her chest tightened.

She clenched her fists.

Then her phone vibrated.

Anna froze.

Her heart skipped.

Noah?

She grabbed the phone quickly.

Her expression fell.

It was her best friend.

Mia.

Anna stared at the screen.

Then answered.

“Hello?”

Mia’s voice came immediately.

“Anna? You sound terrible.”

Anna forced a smile.

“I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.”

That simple sentence broke her.

Tears rushed down Anna’s face.

Mia panicked.

“Anna?”

Silence.

Then Anna finally broke.

“I’m dying, Mia.”

The words came out shattered.

Broken.

Raw.

Mia went silent.

“What?”

Anna sobbed.

“I have cancer.”

Silence.

Then, 

“What?!”

Mia’s voice trembled.

Anna cried harder.

“Stage four.”

Mia’s breathing became heavy.

“No…”

Anna closed her eyes.

“They said I have six months.”

The line fell silent.

Then Mia started crying too.

“Oh my God…”

Anna pressed a hand over her mouth.

She couldn’t stop crying.

The pain was unbearable.

“I’m scared, Mia.”

That was the truth.

The pure truth.

Anna was terrified.

Terrified of dying.

Terrified of pain.

Terrified of disappearing.

Mia’s voice shook.

“Where’s Noah?”

That question stabbed Anna.

She laughed bitterly through tears.

“With Clara.”

Silence.

Then Mia exploded.

“That bastard!”

Anna said nothing.

Mia’s anger burned through the phone.

“You’re dying and he’s with Clara?!”

Anna cried silently.

Mia’s voice softened.

“Anna…”

Then she said something dangerous.

“You need to leave him.”

Anna froze.

Leave Noah?

The thought felt strange.

Impossible.

Yet…

Today something had changed.

Anna lowered her voice.

“I’m tired, Mia.”

Very tired.

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Physically.

Tired of loving alone.

Tired of waiting.

Tired of hurting.

Mia spoke gently.

“Then stop.”

Anna went silent.

Stop?

Stop loving Noah?

Could she?

Could she really?

Before she could answer—

The front door opened downstairs.

Anna froze.

Noah.

He was home.

Anna quickly wiped her tears.

“Mia, I’ll call you later.”

She hung up.

Her heart began racing.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

Approaching.

Then the bedroom door opened.

Noah walked in.

Tall.

Handsome.

Cold.

His face remained unreadable.

Just like always.

Anna stared at him.

Noah looked at her.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’ve been crying.”

Not concern.

Just observation.

Anna looked at him quietly.

Then something hit her.

Perfume.

A woman’s perfume.

Clara’s perfume.

The scent was strong.

Anna’s chest tightened.

So he really spent the whole day with Clara.

Her voice came out small.

“You’re home.”

Noah removed his watch.

“Yes.”

That was all.

Just one word.

Nothing more.

Anna stared at him.

How could he act like this?

How could he stand there like nothing was wrong?

Like she hadn’t called him desperately.

Like she didn’t need him.

Like she didn’t matter.

Her fingers tightened.

She gathered courage.

“I went to the hospital today.”

Noah loosened his tie.

Then paused.

For a second.

Just a second.

Then he looked at her.

“So?”

Anna froze.

So?

That was his response?

Her voice trembled.

“So… I needed you.”

Noah’s expression hardened.

“I was busy.”

Anna stared at him.

Busy.

With Clara.

She laughed bitterly.

The sound was hollow.

Painful.

Noah frowned.

“What’s so funny?”

Anna looked straight into his eyes.

“I called you three times.”

Noah said nothing.

Anna continued.

“Three times, Noah.”

Her voice cracked.

“Do you know who answered your phone?”

Noah’s face turned cold.

Anna smiled bitterly.

“Clara.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Noah’s jaw tightened.

“She returned recently,” he said flatly.

Anna almost laughed.

That explanation was ridiculous.

“She answered your phone.”

Noah remained calm.

“Yes.”

Anna stared at him in disbelief.

No guilt.

No shame.

Nothing.

Her heart broke all over again.

She swallowed hard.

Then asked the question haunting her.

“What am I to you, Noah?”

Silence.

Noah looked at her.

Expression unreadable.

Anna’s voice trembled.

“I’m your wife.”

Still silence.

Tears burned her eyes.

“But every single time…”

Her voice cracked badly.

“You choose Clara.”

Noah’s eyes darkened.

“Enough.”

Anna shook her head.

“No.”

Not tonight.

Not anymore.

Tears fell.

“You always dismiss me.”

Her breathing became uneven.

“You always make me feel small.”

Her voice rose.

“And no matter what happens—”

She broke.

“You choose her!”

The room fell silent.

Anna cried openly now.

Noah stared at her.

Cold.

Controlled.

Untouched.

That hurt the most.

Her pain meant nothing to him.

Nothing.

Then Noah spoke.

Cold.

Sharp.

“Clara needs me.”

Anna froze.

Noah continued.

“She’s going through a difficult time.”

Anna stared at him.

Disbelief.

Pain.

Anger.

Everything exploded inside her.

“What about me?”

Silence.

Tears streamed down her face.

“What about me, Noah?!”

Her voice shook violently.

“I’m hurting too!”

Noah’s expression hardened.

“Stop being dramatic.”

Anna froze.

Dramatic?

Dramatic?

A bitter laugh escaped her.

Then another.

Then another.

She laughed while crying.

Broken.

Completely broken.

Noah frowned.

“Anna”, 

But she cut him off.

“No.”

Her voice dropped.

Soft.

Dead.

“You don’t get to talk now.”

Noah stared at her.

Anna wiped her tears.

Then whispered the words that shocked even her.

“I’m tired of loving you.”

Silence.

Noah’s brows furrowed.

Anna looked at him.

Straight into his eyes.

For the first time in years, 

She spoke without begging.

Without fear.

Without desperation.

Just pain.

Pure pain.

“I loved you for seven years.”

A tear slipped down.

“Seven years, Noah.”

Her voice trembled.

“I gave you everything.”

Another tear fell.

“But you never chose me.”

Noah said nothing.

Anna smiled sadly.

Then whispered:

“Not even once.”

Silence swallowed the room.

Noah’s face changed slightly.

Something flickered in his eyes.

But before he could speak, 

His phone rang.

Anna froze.

Noah glanced at the screen.

Clara.

Anna saw the name.

Her chest tightened.

Noah answered immediately.

Immediately.

“Clara?”

Anna closed her eyes.

Clara’s crying voice echoed faintly through the phone.

“Noah… I need you…”

Noah’s expression changed instantly.

Concern.

Urgency.

Gentleness.

Everything Anna had begged for.

Everything she never received.

Noah grabbed his coat.

Anna stared at him.

No.

No.

Not again.

Noah moved toward the door.

Anna’s voice came out broken.

“You’re leaving?”

Noah looked at her.

“Yes.”

Anna’s entire body trembled.

“Now?”

Noah’s answer destroyed her.

“She needs me.”

Anna stood frozen.

Her heart shattered.

Again.

Again.

Again.

He chose Clara.

Again.

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

Noah turned.

He walked toward the door.

Then Anna spoke.

One final time.

Softly.

Broken.

“If you walk out tonight…”

Noah paused.

Anna’s voice shook.

“Something will break between us forever.”

Silence.

Noah stood there.

Still.

For one second.

Two seconds.

Three.

Then, 

He opened the door.

And walked away.

He chose Clara.

Again.

The door shut.

Anna stood frozen.

Silent.

Then pain exploded in her head.

Sharp.

Violent.

Her vision blurred.

Blood trickled from her nose.

Anna touched it.

Her fingers came away red.

Blood.

Her body collapsed to the floor.

The room spun violently.

Her breathing became ragged.

Tears mixed with blood.

Her voice broke into a whisper.

Weak.

Barely audible.

“Noah…”

Darkness swallowed her whole.