LOGINJessie is fine.Apparently.And yet she hasn’t even thought to call me.The realization needles at my chest, sharp and persistent. If she were truly fine, wouldn’t she reach out? Wouldn’t she check in—if not for me, then for Jeremy? That’s what wives do. That’s what mothers do - even if she hasn’t accepted that role yet. Instead, the silence stretches on, growing heavier by the hour, until it feels intentional.She’s slipping away. She hasn’t thought about me at all.Worse than that—she’s slipping closer and closer to that insufferable Lincoln. I can picture it too easily: his calm voice, his concerned looks, the way he positions himself as safe, dependable. Everything I should be to her. Everything I am—or was.I can’t lose her.Jeremy needs a mother.I need my wife.I refuse to lose her to anyone.The thought hardens into resolve as I stare out the window, watching my own reflection ghost across the dark glass. The city lights below look distant, unreal—like none of this is actuall
She’s coherent again.She’s here completely and she knows.What’s more - she knows and she was understanding.I held onto those feeling for over ten years and this moment, was something close to what I’d consider a fever dream or a hallucination at best.But this could be drug-induced as well and there’s only way to find out. So I picked her up effortlessly and stepped into the cascading cold water.Her reaction was quick and she seemed completely alert, even continuing on with what we were previously doing so I pressed her back against the marble wall behind her - cold as it was. If it was drug-induced, I’d have known for sure by now.Instead, I watch as she gasps in shock and the pull me back in.This isn’t a fever dream. This isn’t drug-induced.This is her.I continue kissing her at her pace, never once trying to push her any further. A few minutes later, we’re both trying to catch our breath.“Can we please use hot water now?” She asks between shivers.“Sure.” I say with a sof
“What happens then?” I hear the question but all I can think about is how soft and warm his skin feels against my thighs. How his woodsy fresh scent fills the air around us and engulfs me and how his eyes are piercingly teal as they stare back at me.“I’m no t worried about then.” My response. Because I’m not, I’m worried about now.I’m worried about him refusing to give into my urges when I feel every particle of my skin tingling against his. When I have this unshakeable urge to touch him, kiss him and have him.“That’s it. Shower.” He decides as he grabs hold of my ass firmly. I gasp at his touch - his hands are so warm.We make it to the bathroom when he sets me down on the counter and turns on the water.“Do you think you can stand in there?” He asked.I could but that wouldn’t get me what I wanted, so I said no. “Fine. I’ll carry you.” He offers until I take off his shirt - the one I’d been wearing and toss it on the floor next to me.His eyes go wide and he freezes. That shoul
I could feel her pulling me closer, beckoning me to sink in and truthfully, I want to. I’ve always wanted to but this wasn’t how I wanted it.I wanted it coherently.And this didn’t feel that way.I just can’t do it.I slowly pull myself back and grab hold of her hands, gently pulling them from around my neck and holding them in front of me.“This.. isn’t right, Jess.” I state softly.“But I answered your questions.” She says almost pouting. “You did and I believe that you’re there but I don’t believe that this is you and I can’t take advantage of you.” I say as I release her hands, standing from the bed to create distance from her.“Okay.” She says quietly.“I’m going to call Officer Pennet and see what could be causing this, okay?” I offer a small smile as I pull out my phone, dialing his phone number before putting it on speaker.“This is Mike.” I hear on the other line.“Officer Pennet, it’s Lincoln. Jessie’s been seen by the doctor and given a clean bill of health but I’ve notic
I stand to greet Dr. Hanson as he steps inside.“Dr. Hanson, I’m sorry to have called on short notice. I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you.” I shake his hand as I apologize.“No need, Lincoln. It’s no inconvenience at all.” He offers.I watch as the officers slide by with a nod and leave without a word, leaving me to tend to Jessie.“I’m glad to hear it. Jessie is just in the other room. Please, follow me.” I begin walking down the hallway to my bedroom and knock before opening the door.“Well, I never thought I’d see the day where you’d have a woman in your home nonetheless in your bed.” He mocked softly. Dr. Hanson was not only my doctor but a longtime acquaintance and he - like others, was more than aware of my skepticism and need for privacy in my house.“Well, she’s not that kind of woman. I’ve known her since we were children and we’re not intimately involved.”“To your dismay or hers?” He asks quizzically.“Truthfully, mine.” I say quietly before opening the door to find Jess
After watching Lincoln check on Jessie for what had to be the hundredth time since she’d finally laid back down, I decided I could finally allow myself to sit and breathe.My legs felt weak the moment I lowered myself onto the edge of the chair, like they’d only just realized the crisis had passed. The adrenaline that had kept me upright was slowly bleeding out of my system, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion.She’s alive.Mike saved her.She’s going to be okay.I repeated it over and over in my head, clinging to the words like a lifeline. I’d been saying the same thing to myself since the moment Lincoln had pulled her from the shower—her skin icy, her breathing shallow, his hands shaking even as he tried to stay calm. The image still sat heavy in my chest.Footsteps approached down the hall, breaking the silence. I looked up instinctively.Lincoln stood there, shoulders tense, posture rigid in that way he got when he was holding himself together by sheer will. He ran a hand throug







