The Dying Flame of Love

"Are you positive about this? It's going to be rough out there. What about your old injury? How are you going to break it to your wife?"I glanced at Yvonne Scott, my wife, and the suitcase spilled open on the floor, a pair of men's briefs lying on top.I inhaled deeply and let out a wry laugh. "She's cool with it.""Okay, then. Start packing. We're heading out in two weeks."The director ended the call, and that was that.Yvonne stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still dripping, and draped herself over my shoulder."Miss me, babe?"She puckered up for a kiss.I stepped aside and pointed at the briefs in the suitcase. "That's not mine."She barely batted an eye. "Oops, those are Wade's. Got mixed up when I packed after our work trip. He's a client."She tossed the briefs in the trash and reached for my face, her touch gentle."Don't sweat it. Wade and I are like family. If anything was going to happen, it would've happened. Plus, he's married. You've got nothing to worry

Yvonne was right behind me as she roared, "Then pack your bags and go!"I was just giving Yvonne a taste of her own medicine. She was so used to my constant doting; there was no way she could handle the frosty shoulder I gave her.I made a beeline for the exit, but she was hot on my heels furiously. "Just leave, and don't you dare come back!"I got myself a hotel room, freshened up, and got ready to sleep. Yvonne blew up my phone with call after call, but I ignored them all.Then, 30 minutes later, a stranger rang."Hey, is this Yvonne's husband? She's plastered over here at our bar. Could you come get her?""You've got the wrong guy."However, I thought better of it and added, "Check her contacts for a dude named Wade. He can deal with it."I hung up, got online, and started the paperwork for a visa to Avrika.Yvonne tried reaching out a few more times, but eventually, she gave up and went silent.The hospital had been a madhouse lately, what with us gearing up for the Avrik

Back in the day, I used to bring Yvonne food to help her score points with people. I would do the same for her coworkers, too.She always handed the homemade lunch I made for her to someone else, claiming it did not suit her taste. Despite her coworkers raving about my cooking, she would complain they were so bad that they made her sick.It turned out Wade had been bringing her meals too, and he was not too happy about mine. She had assured him she would only eat his food from then on.I decided to give Yvonne's meals the same treatment she gave mine.When the day came for me to leave the hospital, she was adamant about taking a day off to drive me home.I did not object.Climbing into the car, I was hit by a wave of strong cologne. I'm not one for fragrances, but I recognized it instantly—it was Wade's signature scent.Sure enough, there was Wade's jacket, tossed over the back seat.Yvonne shot me a guilty look and quickly said, "Wade forgot his jacket last time he dropped me

"You!" Wade bristled at my comeback.Then, with a click of his tongue, he said, "You're just a pawn she's using to get to me. My divorce will be final any day now, and she'll drop you just like that. Don't believe me? Just watch."I grabbed the steaming kettle and filled a cup with hot water. "Don't flatter yourself. What do you think you are, anyway?"Livid, Wade grabbed the steaming mug in front of him and geared up to douse me with it. "Don't get too cocky, Thomas!"I sidestepped just in time, and the water splashed harmlessly onto the floor.Disgusted by his antics, I retaliated, flinging my own cupful of water right at his face.He yelped like a soaked pup caught in the rain."I'd love to see if Yvonne would stick with you if you were useless, Thomas!"His eyes blazed with spite, his rage flaring up in the flickering firelight.Out of nowhere, he lunged, trying to shove me into the stove. I teetered, nearly toppling over from the force.I was a hair's breadth from face-p

"Thomas, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?" she implored tearfully.Once upon a time, that look would have shattered me. However, at this point, her troubles were no longer mine.I looked at her disinterestedly and walked away with Jessica.Once we were out of the restaurant, I turned to Jessica and mumbled an apology, feeling a bit sheepish.She cracked a smile and said, "No worries. I didn't see that one coming with your ex being so clingy."I let out a sigh. "Hanging on when you don't need to just end up hurting everyone involved. I just hope she gets that sooner rather than later."Jessica just gave me a look, staying quiet.Yvonne hung around our medical team for a week. She tried her hand at cooking and jumped in to help with work.However, Yvonne, who was always used to being doted on, was not cut out for that kind of work, and she usually just made things worse.Nobody truly wanted her around, and she took off early in the morning before her vacation was up.