Cane washed the dishes as Yvette re-bandaged her hand. He thought about what he was doing, and that little bit of anxiety was almost gone. His thoughts were filled with her as he replayed each scene. He'd forgotten the last time he ate a home-cooked meal with someone. Had anyone ever cooked for him, he felt like someone had, but this was the first time he felt a warmth behind it. He then remembered an odd memory he had long forgotten. 

     He was in the middle of two adults, his small body sitting between them. The man, whom he assumed was his father, kept pointing and shouting that he refused to care for 'that thing'. 

     "He's five and he hasn't spoken a word. Hell, he hasn't even smiled. It just walks around with that empty look", his father yelled. His mother cried in anger, "It's not my fault! I didn't want to have it in the first place. You wanted it, so it's your problem. You take care of it". 

    Cane then looked up at the screaming match and saw it had turned violent. His father lunged forward, trying to strangle his mother, and his mother attempted to claw at him back. 

     Cane moved aside and watched as the fight concluded with his mother breaking free and bludgeoning his father to death with a brass decoration. His mother then walked over to Cane and grabbed his tiny hand. She led him outside and carefully buckled him into the car seat. She then got into the car herself and began to drive, still covered in blood. 

     As they drove, Cane stared out the window. He saw as the scenery changed, never questioning where they were going. They had a few stops here and there at gas stations where his mother would call someone at a payphone, scream, and continue driving. He remembered she would always look at him with fear and a hint of contempt whenever she stepped back into the car. 

     After a long car ride, Cane then felt the vehicle slow down, and finally, they parked in a driveway in the dead of night. The house was not familiar to him, but it was nice to see new places. It was different from his normal two-story home, but this one had its charm.

      Cane's mother then unbuckled him and carried him to the doorstep. She stood there for what felt like forever, unsure of what to do. Cane could feel her shaking even though it wasn't cold outside. She then knelt as she began to cry, "You look so much like him, Cane, and because of that, I can't stand to look at you. You shouldn't have been born". 

     She walked away, and as she made it to the curb of the house, she looked back. Her eyes went wide as her son began to wave and finally said his first word, "Goodbye". 

     The shock sent her stumbling into the street, her final words being, "You stupid child, why didn't you say something earlier?". As she smiled through her tears, she was run over by an oncoming car. The driver screeched to a halt, but it was too late. They drove off into the night, never caught for their misdeed.

     He could still remember her body twitching on the pavement, but he couldn't feel sad; he couldn't feel much of anything after that.

 

     "Cane, are you alright? You look a little pale". Cane felt a warmth on his cheek as he came back to the present. "No, yeah. Everything's fine, I just remembered something odd". Cane continued and began to dry the dishes. He felt like this was the first time he had ever felt something real.

      He didn't have to act to be interested in what Yvette was saying. It was odd to feel like your heart was beating on its own. He then remembered his dear fiancée and her crying face. 

     He understood why she felt the way she did now, or thought he knew. He was always uninterested and distant, and he never hid it. He felt like it was a chore to act perfectly in public, but at home, he just let go, going through the motions of eating, listening, and being with his fiancée, catering to the image she wanted. 

     He remembered how they met. They went to the same college, and he helped her find the building she was looking for. To be honest, the first time he saw her, he thought she was beautiful, but that was it. He never thought about her again. 

     He began to make friends by mimicking Damien and the popular people around campus, but he grew tired of the mundane. Then, as his friends began to fall into relationships, he thought it was a good idea to get into one; however, he found the ordeal exhausting until he found the beautiful girl again.

     Her name was Vivian, a girl whom everyone described as sunshine incarnate. She began to pursue him, and without resistance, he agreed. Everyone thought they were the perfect couple as they saw her talk for hours, and he just listened.  She aspired to travel the world, always going on and on about experiencing new things, while he nodded away and smiled. Everyone felt that even though she was boisterous, he kept her grounded. Yet, no one saw them behind closed doors. 

     Vivian prided herself on looking perfect for everyone, and with Cane, he just had to stand there to make her look better. She would often run off and party, and Cane found relief when she left. They both continued this facade as he met her parents. Relief came over them as they finally saw their daughter with someone presentable. Cane could see she didn't get along with her parents, but didn't care much to pry deeper. After all, it was all a front for others.

     The years came and went, Vivian's friends slowly drifted away, as well as her situationships. Feeling lonesome, she felt Cane was the only one who truly cared for her. After all she had done, he had never left her side and never saw her as a piece of meat like all the others. Vivian felt like this was her only chance at happiness, and thus, she brought in the idea of marriage. Cane agreed with no hesitation, but things did not change after the engagement.

      Cane never intended to go beyond what was half of the relationship. If she cleaned, he cooked; if she did the laundry, he would fold; if she bought groceries, he would put them back in their place. But when it came to the emotional burden of a relationship, he never gave her a joke, an anecdote, not even a fight. She was correct in that Cane never saw her like a piece of meat; in fact, he never saw her as anything. 

     Vivian felt like she was at her breaking point and brought up her grievances to Cane, "I feel like you don't care about me, Cane. We rarely talk, we don't go out, and you don't even try to be intimate with me. Don't you love me anymore?".

     As she said this, she saw Cane look surprised for the first time in her life. He turned to her as he explained, "Love? I don't think love was ever part of this, Vivian. I thought we were just using each other".

      Vivian felt shocked at the response. Her body trembled as she tried to find reason in his statement, "Using each other? I don't...I mean... Well, yes, I will admit that in the beginning, but you stayed. Why would you? What was the reason for staying so long with me?! You could have found someone else."

     Cane went back to what he was doing, not grasping the severity of his words, "Because it was too much of a bother if I'm being honest".

     There were no emotions in his words, and for the first time, she really saw him. His eyes were hollow, his demeanor cold, and she questioned if he was even human. She tried to bring others into the issue, but everyone always dismissed her. Even her parents treated her to harsh words, " After all you've put him through, and now you're accusing him of nonsense. You should be grateful he even took you in".

     Cane saw her as she slowly withdrew into herself, and he thought she would finally fall into place. However, her little infedility occurred and everyone found out. So, after wasting so much of his time and acting like an idiot for all these years in front of people, witnessing her slowly rot from the inside was the best course of action. It was the only time he actually felt happy being next to her.

     As he thought of then and now, he could see what he was lacking. It wasn't that he was emotionless; it was just that he didn't like anyone. Others expected so much of him, while he was content with them just leaving him alone. But now, with Yvette, his heart was opened, and his curiosity was piqued. He looked at her as she finished wrapping her hand without a care in the world. He felt he could commit the most horrid of actions, and she would still forgive him because she loved him that much. The problem right now was having her admit it.

     The duo got into Cane's car and drove to the park to retrieve Yvette's car. Yvette stared out the window as they remained silent, just enjoying each other's company. 

     She tried not to think about last night's events, but it was tough to forget getting stabbed. Her side received a few stitches too, but didn't bother her as much as her hand. She felt sorry for the girl, knowing she would never see Silas ever again.

     They arrived at the park and saw Yvette's car, Cane parking next to it. Yvette stepped out and took out her keys. Cane walked over and stood in front of her. They stared at each other, smiling as they each reached out their hand. Their fingers interlocked, and in the silence, they began to inch closer. Yvette began to stand on her toes, and Cane leaned down, but they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

    "Yvette? Yvette, is that you? I just saw you all over the news. Did you really get stabbed? Are you okay?". Yvette snapped back and turned toward the voice and saw a face he didn't want to see again. 

     She struggled to put on her usual smile as she greeted the person who was now in front of them. "Julian, it's been so long.. What are you doing here?". 

     Julian stepped forward, uncomfortably close, making the couple step back. "Oh, I was just roaming around with some friends. I told them I knew the girl from the news, but I never thought I would run into you." He smiled a coniving smile, but his eyes quickly darted to Cane. " And who's this, you know how jealous Silas gets when you're around other men". 

     Cane was about to speak out, but Yvette intervened, "Actually, I left Silas quite a while ago". 

     Julian feigned a concerned look, "What a turn of events. It really looked like you two were meant for each other. I thought you two would end up getting married in the end. But, what can you do...he was always a team player. So, is he still staying at the old apartment?".

     "I'm not sure, but the police approached me not too long ago. They said he was reported missing. Her expression was indifferent as the air turned on Julian. 

     Julian was caught off guard by the statement, his face in a state of disarray. However, Yvette composed herself, her usual soft and sympathetic smile reappearing 

     "I'm sorry to throw such a bombshell on you. You were overseas until now and just came back, correct?". Julian nodded. " I didn't mean to let you know about your friend like this, but I do hope he's okay". 

     Yvette wanted the conversation to end, but felt she had created an awkward atmosphere, her body shaking with the stress and the pain. However, she was again brought back as Cane lightly squeezed her hand. As she looked at him, he smiled, reassuring her

     Cane then intervened as he looked at his watch, "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to hurry, Yvette, we don't want to keep them waiting". 

     Yvette smiled, "You're right. Sorry to cut things short, Julian, happy holidays". Cane felt her tighten her grip as they both walked off. 

     As they gathered some distance, Yvette held on to Cane's arm. Cane held on as well. "You okay?" he asked. Yvette kept walking forward but turned, giving him a tender expression, "Of course, you were right there with me".