*This is the second part of my story, "Innocent Sin". It's recommended to read that first!
*****
I awoke the next morning from the deepest sleep I had experienced in years. I had a little bit of pep in my step for the morning, but reality set back in by lunchtime. I still wasn't sure if last night really happened. But the feeling of worked muscles told me otherwise. The memory of my actions was swimming in my conscience all day. I only had a few days left here, and the idea of that didn't seem to bother me as much as I was expecting it to.
The day went by in a blur, much to the fact that I was just trying to get to the end of the week. Dinnertime came and went, and I was walking back to the cabin with my wife.
"Wasn't it a lovely day today?" She looked out into the forest that was saying goodbye to the last of daylight.
"Yeah, it was alright," I shrugged and just continued down the dirt path.
"Look, I know you don't wanna be here, but could you at least act like you do? For Pete's sake, I don't ask that much of you and when I do, you always throw a tantrum," She scoffed and started walking a bit faster than I to show her discontent.
Here we go.
"Excuse me? I haven't said shit to you since getting here. I think I've been doing a good job at not saying anything. You see? This is why I get mad. Because you never see the countless acts of service that I put myself through for your damn happiness," I grabbed her by the elbow and made her turn to face me.
"Let go of me," She said with a hushed tone.
"Not until you admit that I do more for you than you do for me," I let go of her arm and crossed mine over my chest.
She grimaced at me, "Oh, please, I'm not going to get into this argument tonight because if I did, I would list all the things I do for you, and that would take the rest of the evening," She turned back to walk towards the cabin and I just waved her off. It wasn't worth it. You could not get anything through that woman's mind when she thought she was right. Don't get me wrong, yes, she did things for me like make me dinner and wash my laundry. But the damn woman hadn't listened to a word I have said in the past ten years. She rarely did anything I wanted to do with her, she didn't adhere to my needs. It just wasn't a relationship anymore.
My episode of rage was interrupted with the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned to acknowledge someone was there but did a doubletake when I realized who it was.
Her.
Suddenly my chest was a little tight and my blood was a current in my ears.
"Um, hi," She quickly stopped dead in her tracks. "I was actually just on my way to come see if I could talk to you," She walked up in front of me. She looked different tonight. Her hair was straight, and she was wearing pajama shorts and a tank top with pink flipflops on her small feet.
I did a quick scope around the area to make sure no one could hear us talk, "Look, I don't think it's a good idea to see you anymore. Okay? We only have two days left and I don't want any trouble to arise," I patted her on the shoulder and tried to nudge her to head back the way she came from. I know I was being a jerk, but I could never have what happened between us turn public.
She looked at me with her chestnut eyes, that were starting to glisten with tears. I suppose part of me was supposed to feel guilty and responsible for whatever this young girl was feeling. Her chin was starting to quiver, and I let out a sigh.
