At eighteen, Oliver was slender and not particularly tall, yet he had the bravery to drop out of school for a year to earn enough money to send me to high school in the city. He even started a business to support my education, sacrificing his own dreams for mine. On the day he graduated, we obtained our marriage certificate. That night, overwhelmed by emotion, Oliver drank too much, holding me close as he cried. He beat his chest in desperation, as if trying to convey his heart to me. “I truly believe that people who cheat are disgusting, regardless of gender. Lisa, don’t worry; I will never cheat. This is my responsibility to you, and it’s my bottom line.” For ten years, I believed those words—until Anna appeared.
The sound of the door opening pulled me from my thoughts as I bit down on the gauze, bracing myself for the final bandage. “Oliver?” In his loose hospital gown, he looked even thinner than before. He approached me, gently touching my nose, a hint of affection in his eyes. “You seem unhappy today. I want to go home and be with you.” Suddenly, confusion and hurt overwhelmed me, leaving me unable to comprehend his words.