1 It was all a lie

The deafening silence was punctured by slow moans. Mia stood at the front door to her bedroom, her hand hanging. She didn't know if she should knock on the door or not. The sound of a woman moaning increased. She pulled her hand down with force, clutching her hand in a fist until her knuckles hurt from folding them too tight. She didn't release the fist, but felt her bag drop on the floor, making a loud thump sound. Instead of picking up the bag, turning and leaving like her head was telling her; she leaned on the wall, and slowly crouched beside the door, pulling her knees up to her chin.

'This is my wedding bed.' Mia trembled. She turned her head towards the direction of the door remembering her husband vow to be loyal to her for the rest of his life; the one he was breaking in their bed. He didn't respect her enough to use a hotel for his activities; he had to bring it to their matrimonial home and on their matrimonial bed.

A drop of tears fell to her knee, and she held back the sob welling in her throat. She wasn't going to cry again because of him. She held the wall while trying to stand up but felt numb in her legs and crouched back to the floor. The sound of moans increased, and the voice of a woman screaming, "Faster! Faster! Faster!"

Confused, she picked up her handbag and tried searching for her phone while dropping other contents of the bag to the floor. The moment she picked up her phone, she searched for a number and dialed it. The beep on her phone seem to go on forever until she heard her familiar voice, "Hello, babe."

"Ba.. ba.." She stuttered, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

"What's wrong?" Sheila's voice was filled with panic. "Are you crying? Did something happen?"

She swallowed a stubborn sob, and cursed whoever opened the dam of tears in her eyes. She wanted to spill that she had just caught her husband with some woman in their bed, but she only ended up wailing in Sheila's ears. The tears dropped simultaneously, and she held her hand to cover the sob that accompanied it. The sound of moans hadn't decreased in the room, and this time it was her husband's voice. "Do you like that, baby? Do you like how I give it to you?"

She choked on tears. He doesn't talk during their intercourse; she only lay on the bed, while he goes about his business, not caring about how she liked it or if she derived pleasure in it. Whenever he was done, he just pulled out and walked into the bathroom. After coming out of the bathroom, he laid beside her, turning his back towards her. No cuddling or whatever.

"Where are you? I am coming to pick you" She heard shuffling in the background. Wiping her tears with her backhand, she shook her head, "No! No! Just tell me where you are. I am going to meet you there."

There was silence at the other end of the phone, "Are you sure you can drive? I don't mind picking you up, I am not doing anything?"

She shuffled on her knee, shoving the things on the floor into her bag, "I can get to you. I promise. I'll be fine."

"I am at home, but I think I should pick you up." Sheila replied. She shook her head, and after lots of cajoling, Sheila finally hung up.

Mia stared at the door again, her handbag in hand, and heels inside the bag. She bit her lower lip before turning and tiptoeing down the stairs. The place was silent; there was no maid or servant in the apartment. She had insisted on doing most of the house chores to relieve herself of the boredom of staying at home alone whenever her husband was busy or whenever he went on his business trips. She glanced around at the place she called home, before dashing into the elevator.

The ride to Shelia's apartment was short. Sheila stood at the door in a navy blue short dress, her hands wrapped below her breast, and her legs tapping the floor, while her beautiful face was marred by a frown. The moment she saw Mia dragging her feet towards the door, Sheila dashed towards her and engulfed her in an embrace. Sheila's hand found her head, pulling her face to her chest.

"What happened?" Sheila asked, her eyes moving to wipe the traces of tears below her eyes.

She sighed, "Can we go in first? I think I will need a cup of cold water." Her voice was hoarse. Sheila nodded linking Mia's hands to hers. She put her in what she called 'Sheila's comfort chair' and brought a bottle of chilled water and a glass cup, then sat in front of her.

"What happened?" Sheila's blue eyes darted to the left and right trying to take her in all at once.

She took a deep breath trying to find the best way to present it to Sheila. Sheila had always been suspicious of her husband, but she had disregarded her opinion thinking Jake couldn't cheat on her. He loved her. That was what he had said. When she was working and trying to build a career, he hated the fact that she had to go through those stress. He had persuaded her to stop working and that he was going to provide all of her needs. He was capable of taking care of her, and she believed him. She believed him. Oh, she was a fool.

"Why are you so silent? Is it something that serious?"

She nodded.

Sheila's eyes widen, "What exactly happened? Stop putting me in suspense, you know how much I hate that?"

She sighed, "You were right?"

Sheila sat upright, staring at her like she had grown two heads suddenly, "What do you mean by I was right?"

"My husband is cheating on me with some woman."