29 His Heartfelt Words

When Marcella woke up it was already bright. After a deep sleep, she was rejuvenated.

She was on her favorite sheets. Her floral walls uplifted her. Through the gap in the thick curtains, a streak of sunlight seeped in. She could hear the sound of traffic in the distance.

It was just another morning. A normal morning.

She checked the time, and it was seven in the morning. She can get ready for work at her own pace. She had a lot of time.

That was the first thought that came to her mind—work. She used to complain about going to work, but now all she craved was her normal routine.

Yeah, everything was fine. Nothing bad had happened. It all must be a nightmare. She woke up from it and it's all hunky dory. She believed if she said it a couple more times, it all will be true.

All is well. All is well.

She stretched. The wound in her abdomen hurt. She pressed the wound. She needs to change the bandage.

It hurts…

She plopped on the bed. Her heart clouded with despair and tears rolled down from her eyes.

Nothing is fine… My sister is dead…

Burying her face in the pillow, she cried.

*Knock* *Knock*

She heard the knock at her bedroom door and she sprung up. On her knees, she blinked her eyes as she realized something.

Her sister is dead. But that's not all, is it?

She got married yesterday. MARRIED!!!

Tony stayed here the whole night? Why wouldn't he? We are MARRIED!!!

She has a husband now and yet she looks so unsightly so early in the morning!

Her wet hair was sticking to her face. She looked for a tissue to wipe the snot dripping from her nose but the tissue box was empty.

What the…

She threw the tissue box back on the table and wiped her face with the pillow. Desperate times needs desperate actions. She quickly fixed her hair, or tried to. Her hair was not caring for her urgency. It had a mind of its own.

"I'm getting in, Marcella."

Tony's ever so gentle voice made her heart skip a beat out of fear.

Aiden called her disgusting the one time he saw her early morning look. She shivered remembering the disgust on his face. He looked at her as if she was a rotting fish on the beach. He told her that she smelled like dried fish and that no man would stay with her if she was unwilling to put in some effort.

She didn't want to remember Aiden. But for some reason his words were the only thing she could remember. Maybe he was right.

Maybe Tony would feel the same too. He used to not like her. For some reason he agreed to marry her. Maybe he pitied her. She cannot let him see her in this revolting way. He might leave her.

Then… her sister's wish…

She decided to hide inside the duvet and pretend to be asleep. Tony will not disturb her if she was asleep.

*Bang*

She hit her head on the top rail of the headboard. It hurt.

"Marcella!" Tony ran to her.

Marcella quickly covered herself with the duvet. "Don't!" she shouted. "Don't look at me. I look hideous."

Tony placed the coffee mug on the side table. He saw the empty tissue box on the side.

"Were you crying?" he asked. He tried to hold himself back but he couldn't help himself. She had bundled herself in that duvet looking absolutely adorable.

He sat beside her and gently patted her head. "Come on, you'll suffocate if you stay inside for long… Marcella…I won't laugh at you, I swear," he leaned to her.

"No!" Marcella said. He was right. She was suffocating. Her nose was also blocked. She wouldn't mind him laughing at her though. She feared that he would be disgusted. "I should have at least washed my face and brushed my teeth," she mumbled.

"That's what you are worried about?" Tony stood up. "I didn't know you were this adorable…" he chuckled. "I'll be in the living area with my eyes closed. You can use the bathroom and come out when you feel presentable. And…drink the coffee before it gets cold."

Marcella sighed in relief as she heard Tony stepping out of the room. So, it must be something that bothers men. She must have been a fool to not know that when she spent most of her time with men growing up.

After drinking her coffee, she went to the bathroom with a clean set of clothes. She needed to leave the house before nine if she wants to be on time for the reading.

Marcella checked herself once more in the mirror. Her eyes were puffed and reddish but she couldn't do anything about it. At least she smelled good.

Tony was in the kitchen. He smiled at her. "You're just on time. Breakfast is ready to be served."

Looking at Tony in her kitchen, preparing her breakfast, she realized how useless she's been acting. It was like she had sent off her brain on vacation.

She only focused on herself and she even forgot that she got married for a moment when she was the one who wanted the wedding. She knew exactly what Tony wanted in a marriage.

And yet she…

Last night was supposed to be their wedding night. She didn't even remember how she got home. And this morning she acted rude to him. And yet, he was smiling at her.

How can she be like this when she grew up watching her mother? Her mother never took a wrong step in her life and she cared for their father just as any good wife would. Her sister too was no exception.

She really is the black sheep of the family.

Tony was calling for her and she joined him on the couch. She decided to apologize to him but before she found ways to phrase it, Tony talked to her.

"I want to tell you something," he said. He looked so serious and she looked at him. She just then noticed that he was wearing a blue shirt. He was wearing a white shirt yesterday. He must have gotten a clean set of clothes from his house, returned here, and prepared breakfast for her.

She… just slept.

What a good wife!

She nodded. Tony looked like he had thought a lot about it.

"Marcella, I…" he gulped. Then he took a deep breath. "I think we have to talk about some things…"

Marcella nodded. He held her hand.

"It's fine if you want to look presentable in front of me. But it's practically impossible at all times. We are married and we are going to spend the rest of our life together sharing each other's intimate spaces. None of us can be perfect at all times. We are humans and each of us will have our own shortcomings. I am not blaming you. It's just… earlier, you sounded so stressed. You are grieving and I understand you must be under a lot of stress. But don't stress yourself for me. It's fine to let me see the sides of you that you think are unpresentable. I don't mind. You'll never be less than perfect in my eyes."

Marcella choked hearing his sincere words. "You are very considerate, Tony. I just… I feel so useless…and selfish and…crude…and…"

Tony sighed. "You don't have to look after me, Marcella. I am a man, not a child. It's okay. Don't feel guilty. I wanted to do it all today because I knew you had a long day ahead. If I had a long day, you can do I for me, if you feel like it. It's not mandatory…"

Marcella nodded wiping the corners of her eyes. The words Tony spoke needed to be dissected and reviewed. It contained a lot of meaning.

She felt light. Tony made everything seem easy and she felt light.

Marriage with him is not going to be hard, is it?