LOVE AGAIN; AFTER HER BETRAYAL

     “Urghhh”, Melinda groaned, letting a slight gruffy moan escape through her lips as she lazily stretched out her arms, the dull rays of the morning sun generously hitting her light skin through the pangs of the only large window in the poorly lit master bedroom.

  The view from where she sat typically highlighted the City that never sleeps, its iconic skyscrapers and a kaleidoscope of sounds, sights and flowers made butterflies flutter in her stomach – An enthusiastic adrenaline rush from the excitement of her 5th wedding anniversary was worth it wasn't it?.

She yawned as she made for the door to find Ethan, he had been so busy with work he barely had time for her in the past month, although the daily breakfast in bed was quite romantic, it didn't serve as generous enough compensation for his presence.

“Ethan!”She called out, hoping he was home at least.

“I woke up early enough this time, where are you?”, Subsequent thuds from her footsteps gave way to the creaking sound emanating from the wooden staircase, there was a brief pause and within the blink of an eye, Melinda swiftly scuttled down the stairs like one who had just been liberated from torturous captivity, all in a bid to find the source of the sizzling sound accompanied by the aroma of sausages that wafted in the air.

A broad smile spread across her face as she gazed at the masculine figure before her, subconsciously admiring how the beads of sweat ran down his burnett hair hitting the strands of the navy blue apron bundled up in a rough knot on his neck. It's efforts to cover his shirtless brown skin proved futile as the flexing movement of his triceps mesmerized her, easily featuring his expertise in making rolls from the way he manipulated the spatula.

“Now aren't you a clingy princess?”, Ethan asked dispassionately, without turning from his focus.

“Uhmm… I I miss you.”, Melinda found herself stuttering, wondering what must have happened the previous night, her attention gradually shifting from her initial burst of excitement.

“I waited till midnight Ethan and you haven't kissed me good night in weeks, don't you think this clingy princess deserves a little treat?”, She asked matter of factly.

“I'd prefer to show the princess some tricks”, A slight smirk cut across his face when he finally turned to look at her. His dark brown eyes scanned through Melinda's miniature figure as the lingerie perfectly outlined her evident curves in the right places.

He slowly removed the damp apron before walking up to her, grabbing her waist in a frantic manner, intently trapping her between the wall and his broad sweaty chest, his warm breath coursing through her soft skin.

“Take out the rolls in thirty, I'm late for work”. He said as he pressed his lips on her forehead, planting a sharp kiss before walking out of the kitchen to get his robe for a quick shower.

Why did he act so lukewarm towards her, was she asking for too much even after knowing how busy he had become with work? She thought to herself as a mild feeling of guilt hit her. Memories of the first year of the wedding flashed through her mind as she sat still in despair not realizing when Ethan slipped out of the house.

A bright ring from her phone gave her a break from savouring the taste of the fairly burnt rolls.

“Hey Sis”, Sage's voice bursted out through the other end of the line, squealing with a whirlwind of spontaneous…

“Got some leisure time on your hands?”, She continued.

"For you, always," Melinda laughed, settling back in the dining chair.

 "What's up?"

"Oh, okay, so tomorrow's plans, then? Anniversary number Five! Well, I was thinking, we should celebrate tonight, you and the girls. A pre-anniversary party, somewhat.

Melinda heaved a frustrated sigh, "Tonight?, I was actually thinking of a quiet night at home with Ethan. Maybe a movie, cook dinner, He's been really busy with work lately and I feel bad for him, feels like we're just friendly strangers living in the same house”.

Ethan, the workhorse that he was, would be late at his architectural firm, and Melinda had her own design project to finish up in a couple of days. 

"I'm not taking no for an answer Sis", Sage said, her voice taking on that solemn, teasing whine Melinda knew. "It's been five years, Lin. You can't mark the time with takeout and N*****x. Besides, Ethan will probably be working late anyway, won't he? Come on, a couple of drinks. My treat. We'll go to that new bar in the West End, the one with those outrageous cocktails."

Melinda paused. Sage was not easily discouraged, and once she had an idea in her head, she did not easily forget it. And besides, a girls' night out did sound kind of appealing, something to get away from her gradual slip into depression and self - pity. 

Besides, she had to admit that Sage was right, Ethan would probably be stuck at the office.

"Okay, okay, you win," Melinda relented, a grin spreading across her face.

"Finally! I'll pick you up at eight. Dress up!" Sage bubbled before she hung up, leaving Melinda with a pricking sense of unease which she easily dismissed as the pre-party nerves.

The "few drinks" Sage promised soon became excessive. The bar Sage had chosen was very hip, blasting with energetic music and the chatter of the city's fashionable crowd. Sage, dressed in a sparkling sequined top, was having the time of her life, pulling Melinda onto the dance floor, ordering round after round of brightly colored, incredibly potent cocktails. 

Melinda, usually the epitome of serenity, was laughing more boisterously than she ever had, her worries over work and tomorrow's anniversary melting away with each sweet cocktail.Sage kept pouring her drinks, each one sweeter than the last. 

"To five years, Lin!" she'd shout over music, clinking her glass against Melida's.

 "To eternal love!" Melinda sipped, the world around her a whirling dervish of lights and laughter. Her final clear memory was Sage's arm draped across her shoulder and her leading her out the door, the cool night air a welcome relief from her flushed cheeks. After that, things began to fade into a hazy, dreamlike nothing.

Melinda woke up with a jolt. Her head throbbed with a persistent rhythm, a drumming of remorse and bewilderment. She blinked to try to clear the fog from her mind, and then she saw it. She was naked.

Her breath stank. Panic coursed through her for a moment. Where was she? Whose bedroom was this? She struggled to sit upright, and a fresh spasm of pain lanced her head. The room was tastefully decorated, minimalist and aesthetic, not her bedroom at all. There were no clothes scattered about the floor, no indication of a wild night except the pungent smell of stale alcohol.

She desperately attempted to remember, her head vacant except for straining for some shred of the night before. Sage… the pub… alcohol… a taxi? Nothing. Blank, uncomfortable space. Under the blankets, ridiculous notion, but she was alone in the bed. No sign of. anything out of sorts.

A strange feeling crept up on her, it was so ridiculous to wake up that way, completely befuddled and naked. But there was no residual scent of man, no strange pillow indentation, no indication of anything beyond a huge blackout. She must have probably removed her clothes when she got wherever she was. Sage must have brought her here, perhaps to her own apartment, and gotten her comfortable. Yes, that's it. Sage was a bit of a wild child, and perhaps she had just chosen to help her sister settle in after too much liquor.

With a shrug that caused another jab of pain to run through her head, Melinda dismissed the lingering weirdness. She noticed her dress draped neatly over a chair, along with her purse. Sage, always neat, even if she did have a wild side.

 She dressed up rapidly, still feeling somewhat unsteady, her mind reeling at the realization of the time. Late morning already! Her anniversary!

She quickly fumbled for her phone, she noticed a text from Sage: 

"Had to dash, hun! Got an early meeting. Hope you’re not too hungover! Call me later!"

Melinda breathed in, a mix of relief and a steadily burning confusion. She must have been completely out of it. She flagged down a cab and sped to Ethan's office. She still wanted to surprise him, perhaps take him out for an early celebratory lunch.

  Although her head still pounded, a flush of warmth ran through her at the thought of seeing his face, of holding him close, looking into her adorable eyes, feeling his breath on her skin and his strong arms on his body.

The trip was painfully slow, the New York City traffic a cruel joke on her building anticipation. 

Finally, the glittering glass facade of Ethan's architectural firm came into view. She dropped the taxi fare and climbed out of the cab, straightening her dress, breathing deeply. Five years. It seemed not more than yesterday when he was vowing before her to love and cherish.

She skirted the reception desk, knowing Ethan's personal assistant, Lara, would be out for lunch. The lift glided in a smooth, quiet ascent, digits counting upwards, her heart pounding as each one brought her nearer to him. When she reached his floor, the corridor was deserted. She knew his office door would likely be open, as he preferred to work with an open ambiance.

Melinda smiled, already picturing his astonishment, the lines at the edges of his eyes as he laughed. She swung open the door, a soft, anticipatory breath on her lips.

"Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart…

But the words were stuck in her throat, gagged by what was unfolding before her eyes. The smell of blueprints and the rich smell of strong coffee that usually followed Ethan's office now hung heavy and thick with another scent, a sweet and sickening one. And on Ethan's big leather couch, amidst a heap of shed clothes and furtive murmurs, was her husband and cuddled with him, without space for doubt, was her only sister – Sage.