What God Has Joined Together
Emily Hasting.
Mrs. Morelli.
She stops chopping. She looks at her finger. She always wears her ring. She really likes this ring. She thinks of all the things this diamond ring stands for and of all the complexity of life. She puts down the knife. Here she is, standing inside this well-equipped kitchen, making French vegetable soup, doubting the decisions she has made, questioning the purpose of her life, questioning everything she has ever known. Is this what she wants? Having sex with a lean hairy husband. Tolerating his snoring. Waiting to get pregnant. Thinking of someone else. Cooking her life away. The radio plays the same songs everyday. The scent of celery makes her want to weep. Joe will soon be home for dinner. Grandma Bella's birthday is next week.
Donovan wanted to say something, but stopped when he saw her ring. Gollum bit off Frodo's finger. Gollum got the ring. Gollum fell into the fires of Mount Doom. Did he feel the pain? Did he try to scream? She stares at the ring. The shining modest diamond. The platinum band. The vow. The curse. The bond. The ties. The chains. She's no longer a free woman. Her hand is already taken.
Unless.
Unless.
Unless...
The house is dark when he lets himself in. The smell of uncooked vegetables shifts in the air. "Emily?" He calls out but no answer comes. "Cupcake?" He tries again. He frowns at the empty kitchen. He goes upstairs. No one's at home and now he's baffled. Where has she gone? He checks his phone. He tries her phone. She left not a word. He goes back downstairs. Everything looks neat and intact. His stomach growls. His dinner is not yet cooked. Will she be mad if he orders a pizza and eats it all? Will she be happily surprised if he makes dinner for the two of them and wait for her? He doesn't want her to be upset. Maybe he should wait. Maybe he should order Chinese for a change. Maybe he should drive to the nearest grocery store, grab some candles, and a bottle of Champagne. Maybe he should also buy her a box of expensive chocolates. Yes, he has just realized that he forgot all about Valentine's Day. Well, it wasn't exactly his fault. The weather was so freaking cold and it wouldn't stop snowing. He thought it was just another Friday. He tried to initiate sex but she said she had a headache. He runs his hands through his hair. He sighs and rubs his face with both hands. Now he will have to make it up for her. Ah, the woes of being a married man.
He grabs his keys and drives all the way to the supermarket. He chooses a somewhat expensive bottle of Champagne, a dozen roses, and a box of too expensive chocolates. He stops by the new fancy Chinese restaurant. He drives all the way home to find the house still empty. He checks his phone and tries Emily's phone again. He sits on the couch and turns on the TV. He waits. His stomach growls again. He waits some more. The food gets cold. He blows out a sigh and starts eating. He drinks a bottle of bear. He checks his watch and phone constantly. He stares at the TV. He drinks another bottle of beer. He keeps waiting. He falls asleep.
He has a most terrible dream.