Still Her Shadow

Vanessa sulked the moment I returned to the home I had once shared with Ellena.

“I wanted to go to the villa, Roman. I don’t want to be in this house another minute. It’s like having that bitch here with us. The decorations, the carpets, even her clothes are still hanging in the laundry room. In fact, the whole house is all hers,” Vanessa complained, her arms crossed over her chest.

I glared at her.

Work had been exhausting today, and there was no way I was dealing with Vanessa and her whiny mouth. Not tonight.

I was still furious that Ellena hadn’t responded to my messages, and none of my calls were going through either. It was making me increasingly angry.

“Vanessa, if you want to go to the villa, then go,” I sighed.

That clearly wasn’t the answer she had been expecting.

“Roman, are you serious? I’m not going to take myself there,” she complained again. “Is this really a good way to treat the mother of your child?” She pouted at me.

I rolled my eyes.

“Then call an Uber. I’m too tired tonight,” I snapped, making my way into the kitchen. I opened the fridge, only to realise that nothing had been prepared for dinner.

Ellena would have had dinner on the table the second I pulled onto the driveway.

The house felt so strange without her now.

“An Uber?” Vanessa repeated, scowling in disgust. She had followed me into the kitchen.

“Yes, an Uber. I’ve had a long day, and I want to eat and go to bed,” I told her.

Vanessa let out an exasperated sigh, throwing her hands into the air.

“Honestly, Roman, sometimes I wonder why I even bother. You act as though I’m asking you to move mountains. All I want is to be somewhere I feel comfortable.”

I opened the fridge, looking for something remotely edible, before shutting it again.

“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before deciding to move into a house that clearly doesn’t suit you.”

Her mouth fell open.

“Excuse me?”

I turned to face her, already regretting having this conversation.

“You heard me, Vanessa. I didn’t force you to come here.”

She stared at me for a moment before her expression changed.

“You know what your problem is? You’re still holding on to her. You might have signed the divorce papers, but you haven’t moved on from Ellena.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Don’t start.”

“No, Roman. I’m serious. Everything in this house reminds you of her, and instead of getting rid of it, you walk around here like some miserable man who’s lost the love of his life.”

I laughed humourlessly.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Because I’ve watched you spend the last few days staring at your phone, checking whether she’s called or messaged you. You’ve barely acknowledged me unless it’s something to do with the baby.”

I looked down at my phone, which was sitting on the kitchen island.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

I had checked it more times than I cared to admit, hoping to see Ellena’s name appear on the screen.

But there was nothing.

Not a single message.

Not even a missed call.

It was infuriating. What was so difficult about answering me? I had been her husband for years. Surely, I deserved at least a response.

Although, technically, I wasn’t her husband anymore.

The thought irritated me more than it should have.

“She’s my ex-wife, Vanessa. Whatever happened between us is none of your concern.”

Vanessa gave me a bitter laugh.

“Your ex-wife? Funny how you still say it like she’s your wife.”

I rubbed my forehead.

“I haven’t got the energy for this.”

“Of course you haven’t. You never have the energy when it comes to me.”

She turned away, wiping beneath her eyes, although I wasn’t entirely convinced she was crying.

I picked up my phone and checked it again.

Nothing.

“I’m going upstairs,” I announced, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Fine. Go and spend another evening thinking about her.”

I ignored her and made my way towards the staircase.

Halfway up, I stopped and glanced towards the bedroom.

Our bedroom.

Or at least, it had been ours.

I pushed the door open and walked inside. Everything was exactly as Ellena had left it. Her side of the wardrobe was still filled with clothes, and the faint scent of her perfume lingered in the room.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space beside the bed.

It was ridiculous.

I had wanted the divorce. I had made that decision, and I wasn’t about to start questioning it now.

Yet somehow, the house felt colder without her.

I threw my phone onto the bedside table and loosened my tie.

Then it lit up.

I immediately reached for it.

For one brief second, I thought it might finally be her.

But it was only an email notification.

I swore under my breath and tossed the phone back down.

Where the hell was she?