After she settled on the sofa and the TV was on, Charles went into the kitchen to make some food. She didn’t expect that Charles knew how to cook, but apparently, he had learned a lot over the past week when she had been gone. The noodles he prepared weren’t bad, or was she just so hungry that she didn’t notice?
Sarah ate silently. Noticing that she served herself seconds, Charles smiled. He looked at her and said in a soft tone. “You were really hungry. How does it taste?”
Thinking about how he had cooked for her and was serving her in every way, Sarah couldn’t stay silent anymore. “Not too bad. You cook better than a ten-year-old.” She said ambiguously.
Charles nearly laughed out loud. “You’re so cruel. I spent a long time learning. Can’t you praise me once?”
Sarah leaned against the sofa lazily without saying a word.
Charles suddenly grasped her hands tightly and said, “Sarah, now that you ate, I ask you with all sincerity, forgive me, please?”
Sarah’s eyelids flickered. Perhaps she didn’t have a good rest last night, or she was too exhausted from this morning and hadn’t recovered her strength yet. Feeling dizzy, she looked at him before she closed her eyes to take a nap.
Charles thought that she was still hesitating to forgive him, and hurriedly sat down beside her. He held her shoulder and spoke with a pleading voice. “Is there anything else that you are still not satisfied with? What should I do for you to forgive me?”
“I’m tired!” Was all Sarah managed to say?
“Tired? Come rest in my arms.” Charles heaved a sigh and pulled her into his arms.
Sarah also sighed. Both her body and heart were tired. There were times when she really hated Charles because he was so indifferent and ruthless. He hurt her easily as if he was stabbing her with a knife in her chest. But when he was gentle, like now, how can she refuse him?
She was exhausted and just wanted to rest.
***
It was Monday, the streets were almost empty since most people were working. Sarah was wandering aimlessly around the streets. Taking subways, getting off on random stops, she entered a shopping mall and walked around looking at some clothes. Since a new season had just started and now many new styles had come in, there were big sales everywhere with out of season clothes.
She had always argued with Charles over their course of the marriage and was so tired of this way of life. The only reason why she hadn't given up yet was that Mr. Thomas treated her so well, as his own daughter. She would feel so sorry for him if she and Charles got divorced.
Thinking about everything that was going on in her life, Sarah went back to her own house where she had lived before. Since she had gotten married, she had rented her home out to others. Her sister was living at a boarding school, and when she came back, she wouldn’t want to live there alone and would come to live with them in their spare guest room.
A few days ago, her latest tenant had moved out, so she decided to clean the place and get it ready for new tenants.
Opening the door, Sarah found her house was a mess. Every time when tenants moved out, they threw rubbish everywhere and didn't clean the place. Sarah had been in Los Angeles when the last tenants had left and hadn't had time yet to check whether everything was still there.
Sarah picked up the broom and started to clean up. It took almost the entire morning to finish the cleaning. After checking if all her things were still there, she only found one small thing from one of her ex-boyfriend had disappeared. She didn’t care about it since she had already put all those items in a corner for storage.
Getting tired, she lay down on the sofa to have a rest. She had never thought about going back to her house before. Sometimes she missed living alone. She had been so used to being alone that after getting married, she missed the quietness. In the beginning, she had been happy to finally not feeling so lonely, but gradually, she had gotten tired of always being surrounded by someone.
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