Member-only story
How We Fell
Oh, don’t say I loved you wrong.
The tea was cold by the time you arrived.
You tugged at your collar, trying to fix the tie around your neck, and I looked away before I could take in what the flush in your cheeks meant. If I walked back into the house right then, I likely would have found a flustered maid quickly trying to adjust her skirt and apron. I wasn’t ready to be angry today, so I closed my eyes and let the moment pass.
Then I opened my eyes and met your gaze.
“You should keep in mind when tea time is, darling,” I said, bringing my cup to my lips. “You make me worry when you’re late.”
“I’m sorry, love,” you said as you sat down in one of the chairs at our table in the garden. “I’ll try to be more punctual. I know you hate to wait.”
If I were younger, I would have said something snide. “Tea time is the same every day, darling. Do I need to buy you a new pocket watch? Maybe then you won’t be rutting with the help when your wife’s waiting for you to turn up.” But I held back my tongue. Sarcasm and sharp words never worked with you. You would just shut yourself up tight, and then I wouldn’t see you in our shared quarters for days. Once I went almost two weeks without seeing even your shadow darken my path. It had been so lonely even though being with you sometimes hurt…
