She loved hearing the funny stories I told about work, and I loved watching her paint, so focused, so peaceful.
She used to say my voice made her feel safe, and her smile became my favorite part of every day.
Six months later, I finally worked up the courage to confess my feelings.
She blushed and said yes.
Our relationship didn’t start off easy.
Her parents were firmly against it, especially her father. He thought I was just a regular office worker from the countryside, not good enough for his precious daughter.
But Tracy was stubborn to the core.
She stood her ground, even went so far as to move out despite having a row with her family. In the end, we squeezed into a tiny rented apartment just to be together.
Resting her head on my shoulder, she whispered one night, “As long as I’m with you, nothing else matters.”
In that moment, I silently promised myself I’d love her for the rest of my life.
I worked my way up at their company, grinding day and night. Three years in a row, I topped the sales charts. Eventually, her father gave me his approval.
On our wedding day, Tracy ran into my arms in her gown, crying like a child.
“Louie… I finally get to marry you.”
Married life was simple, but sweet.
She liked to sleep in on weekend mornings, and I’d make coffee and wait for her to wake.
She always left her socks lying around, and I’d follow behind, picking them up without complaint.
When she painted, I’d sit quietly nearby reading a book. Sometimes I’d glance over at her, feeling completely content.
I thought we’d go on like that forever, growing old side by side.
But then, Harry came back from overseas.
At first, Tracy only mentioned him occasionally.
Louie's POV
She told me he was just an old childhood friend who had been working abroad for years and had finally come back.
Since that was what she had introduced to me, I didn’t think much of it. In fact, I even encouraged her to go catch up with her old friends.
But little by little, things started to change.
Her phone began buzzing more often, and she had more sudden “business trips.” Her evenings were also filled with vague excuses about “reconnecting with old friends” I’d never heard of before.
Outside, the rain poured harder, and the world beyond the window blurred into gray.
I turned my eyes to the wedding photo hanging on the wall.