Chapter 1: Empty
A suitcase was laid on the bare wooden floor. Steps echoed in the empty rooms as a trail was made through the layers of dust. Long, cold and lonely years had left their mark in this squeaky old house. He could almost hear the distant cries of those damned souls who had once inhabited there. He breathed deep the damp and thick air as his gaze wondered around the room. He had never before considered that he might possess a well-developed imagination, but as he walked through the empty rooms he could see the house as it once had been. In his mind there were warm colours, candle light and little steps running around. He vowed to himself to return the house to its former glory with his own two hands.
"You can't live here." The words were spoken with a bored tone by the sweetest voice he had ever heard. He felt his heart jump as he turned to meet the vision standing by the arch. He felt like crumbling down into elementary particles just at the sight of her, but the cold grasp of guilt and self-blame tightened its iron hold over him. His expression solidified and the last glow of hope in his eyes died. Keeping his voice empty he spoke:
"I can and I shall. I'll restore this house and make it into a home, for someone else."
"EJ", Sami rebuked him quietly.
"No Samantha, don't try to talk me out of this", he stopped her and met her questioning gaze through an invisible shield, "You've taken everything else, please give me this."
"It's for our families, they are the reason-" Sami began her reasoning once again but stopped. He all ready knew what she was about to say. She had told it all to him before. Many times EJ had listened and tried to embrace the logic behind her words and actions. And every time his heart had rebelled. Then one day everything had changed and his resistance had died.
"These may be empty vows to you but I intend to respect them. I'm giving my life and my last hope of having a real, loving family to you in order to end this feud between our families. I agree to marry you and keep up the appearances for others, but I need time Samantha. Give me the time I need."
"No one will believe our marriage to be true, if we aren't living together", Sami said as gently as she could make herself say. His reply was short and to the point:
"Restoration of this house is the perfect excuse. Or are you more afraid of your family talking you out of what we've done?"
"No", Sami shook her head sending the long locks of strawberry blond hair to an elegant dance.
"Go home to your twins Samantha. Go home and enjoy your last moments you have free of me and this gilded gage you've built for us", EJ said still standing in the middle of the dark and murky room.
He looked so tall and lorn that Sami had to avert her eyes. If only she hadn't insisted on this, Sami cussed to herself. If only she hadn't made him promise and if only she hadn't made the mistake of following him to this house and if only so many things hadn't had to happen, her life would be so much easier. Following EJ through that slanting front door to this world of mould of and rodents had somehow erased all the colours from Sami's palette. Her world was now full of different shades of grey. Looking at the isolated man in front of her Sami had difficulties remembering why exactly she hated him and why this marriage of theirs was in name only.