LAST SEVEN MINUTES

1. I FOUND A STRANGER

The grandfather clock chimed twice.

2:00 A.M.

The sound echoed through the silent house.

Two o'clock.

He was late.

Again.

I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders, but it did little to stop the trembling that had become a part of me. My hands shook constantly now. Even holding a warm cup of tea was difficult.

The tea beside me had gone cold hours ago.

I didn't have the strength to make another.

Living with a chronic illness meant my body had forgotten what it felt like to be strong.

Some mornings, simply getting out of bed left me breathless.

Some days, I couldn't even button my own sweater without stopping to rest.

Cooking had become impossible months ago.

Cleaning the house was only a memory.

The woman who once danced barefoot in the kitchen while making Damian's favorite meals...

She no longer existed.

Tonight was our twelfth wedding anniversary.

I wanted to cook for him.

I wanted to decorate the table with candles like I used to.

I wanted to surprise him with the chocolate cake we baked together every year.

Instead...

I spent the evening sitting by the window, praying my body would let me stay awake long enough to see him come home.

Headlights suddenly swept across the living room.

My heart skipped.

Damian.

The front door unlocked.

A chilly breeze slipped inside as he entered, humming softly to himself.

He smelled of expensive scotch.

He didn't notice me.

Standing before the hallway mirror, he frowned slightly and wiped away a faint pink lipstick stain from his jaw.

My smile disappeared.

Only after fixing himself did he finally look toward me.

"Oh..."

He sighed.

"You're still awake?"

His eyes lingered on me for only a second.

"You look like a ghost sitting there."

I smiled anyway.

I always smiled for him.

Slowly, I placed both hands on the armrests and tried to stand.

Pain shot through my knees.

My legs trembled violently.

Before I could fully rise...

They gave out beneath me.

I fell back into the chair with a quiet gasp.

"I..."

I swallowed painfully.

"I waited..."

Every word exhausted me.

"I thought..."

"...maybe..."

"...just tonight..."

My lips curved into the smallest smile.

"You'd come home early."

"It's..."

"...our anniversary..."

For one brief moment...

I searched his face, hoping to find the man I had fallen in love with.

Instead...

I found a stranger.