Thursday, Owen

I woke up in an unfamiliar bed to my own, to the sound of my brother yelling at me to wake up.

"Owen! I made pancakes! Get up ya lazy head!" I heard him shout from the kitchen. I slowly rose out of bed, and brushed my teeth, fluffed my hair, and threw on some loungewear. I slipped on my houseshoes and walked into the dining room. Plates were set and a big plate of pancakes was set in the middle of the table. Normally, I'd be glad, with a large appetite, but I couldn't even bring myself to eat. I sat down at the table and poured myself a cup of coffee.

Black. No colour was more fitting to describe my feelings inside. 'What am I, a depressed teenager?' I thought and bitterly laughed.

"I might as well be..." I mumbled to myself. "Hm?" My brother said. "Nothing," I replied.

Why I was here?

I needed to escape. I couldn't stand the fact that my husband no longer loved me. Maybe he never did? Maybe I was the only one all along and I just fooled myself into believing he loved me?

I was getting to be cynical, and my self-esteem seemed to drop even more if that was possible.

'What is love if it isn't for you?' I thought.

"Owen?" My brother asked. "Sorry, just thinking," I said, and looked down.

Silence.

If there's anything I hate about silence, it's how deafening it is. My ears ring, my heartbeats harder, and I'm left alone to my thoughts.

Once finished, I helped clean up, then walked back to 'my' room. I flopped down on the bed and groaned, then checked my phone. One missed call and 2 texts. I opened my phone, only to see it was all from Luke. I checked my voicemail and found he left one.

"Owen, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, please, come home, let's talk about this. Please, baby, I love you, come home and talk to me!" His voice flooded through my ears, the pleading in it was almost unbearable.

I stood up and left for the living room, only taking time to grab my keys.

"Charlie, I'm going to see Luke," I said.

"After what he did to you?" He questioned.

"I have to, especially since Matty is coming home," I said, and he immediately understood, and nodded.

I left my brother's place in a rush and drove towards my own, almost speeding. Once I entered, I saw something I didn't think I'd see.

Luke was curled up on the couch, the TV playing, and empty beer bottles all over our living room table. I quickly knelt down next to him to make sure he was breathing. Once I had done that, I slapped him across the face.

"Lucas! Wake up this instant!" I shouted, and he woke with a start, but he calmed when he saw me.

"Owen..." He whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek. He cupped my face and brought me closer into a short and bittersweet kiss.