Idolatry

A few seconds later he lifted his head and she noticed for the first time how tired he looked, like he hadn’t slept for a week. She led him to the couch and they sat down together. Win reached out to touch his chest, her actions hesitant. She was having trouble believing he was real.

“Don’t Win” he said with a frown.

She didn’t understand what he meant. “Don’t touch you?” she said looking up and drawing her hand away.

“No” he said “don’t touch me like you did in the beginning, as if you’re afraid of me.”

She looked away. “I didn’t mean to. I guess I have to get used to having you around again.”

“When you do that it hurts. It hurts almost as much as not having you touch me at all for the last week” he said with a sad expression.

Win turned back and met his gaze. “I’m sorry” she said.

“We’ve been through this. I don’t want to be untouchable, not to you.  I don’t want you to feel inferior, or not enough. You are everything to me Win.”

“I don’t feel that way” she said “not anymore. It’s just a familiarity thing I promise. I just need to get used to things being back to normal. I thought I’d lost you you know?”

He nodded “I really am sorry for what she said.”

“I shouldn’t have believed it. I should have had more faith in you.”

He sighed and dropped his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. “Do you have any idea how horrible this week has been?”

“I’m sorry” she said.

“I’ve had no help at work and the whole time I was afraid that I’d never see you again.”

“I’m sorry” she said again. Then after a pause she asked “but how did you know I was home?”

“I’ve staked your place out before and after work every day. Some nights I slept in my car out the front, if you could call it sleep.”

“Oh Cole” Win said more sorry than she could say. “I don’t know how to apologise.”

He pulled her onto his lap “just tell me that this crazy idea of yours, that you aren’t up to the correct standard for me, whatever the hell that is, is forgotten. I love you just the way you are. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Win was crying again “it’s forgotten” she sobbed into his neck.

“Good” he said because “when you’re Mrs Winter Blake I want everyone to appreciate my wife for the wonderful woman she is, the same way that I do.”

Lifting her head to look at him and trying to get her emotions under control she said “Mrs Blake?”

“Yes” he said “and it’s not negotiable. I never want to go through this week again. I want us tied together in a way that you’ll never have to doubt me again.”

Tears began to flow again as Win hugged him. Then as her lips found his she knew that she would never again believe she wasn’t good enough. 

The End