Blind Eye

Ethan's heart beat so hard and fast that it made his fingertips tingle. He closed his eyes and inhaled, trying to calm himself. No, she didn't just say that. How could she say that? Cotton mouth dry, Ethan's attempts to swallow and comprehend the words from Angela's mouth were feeble at best.

"I'm sorry," Angela sighed.

"How long has this been going on?" Ethan managed. He looked at her, trying to make eye contact.

"Does it matter?" Angela asked, avoiding his gaze.

"Yes, it matters to me, Angela. If I cheated on you...," his voice trailed off, caught in the cotton.

"I've ended it. So, let's just get past this."

Ethan didn't know if he could. He had to get out of their bed, their now tainted bed. He was so faithful to his lovely wife. Ethan didn't know any other way to be. He allowed Angela's viscous desire for privacy. He allowed her strange sense of independence with no questions asked. Ethan allowed Angela to be who she needed to be. He accepted anything from her. That's just who Ethan was. He ignored his friends' advice. Ethan loved Angela so much that it made his eyes water when he thought of her. Ethan thought this love was enough for Angela.

"I'll be back," he said. He subconsciously grabbed his cell phone as he always did-just in case she needed him, he would be available.

The morning clouds hung low and were dark with moisture. Ethan hardly noticed the pending storm or the brisk, wet air even though he only wore shorts and a tee shirt for his morning run. The headache that threatened to pound in time with his heart subsided some. The run would be refreshing and would help him think, sort things out.

Ethan remembered the first time he saw Angela. Her laughter was what caught his attention. It tingled like little bells and was lively, from the heart. She was beautiful too. Her reddish brown, wavy hair cascaded in little ripples just past her shoulders. Her cinnamon brown skin complimented the light brown eyes that danced with specks of gold and held his daze adoringly. Ethan could stare into those eyes forever.

Angela was flirtatious. Her voice, as rich as fine Godiva chocolate and sultry as a moist summer day, dripped with a sexiness Ethan found difficult to resist. He had fallen for her within moments after seeing her.

"You come here often?" Ethan stammered. The line was corny, but he was lost in those eyes and had to say something. Angela laughed as if he told a not so funny joke, but she definitely set the tone with those seductive eyes.

The piercing ring tone of Ethan's cell brought him back to reality. Odd, the tone was different from his cell. After a closer look, Ethan realized that he had Angela's phone. He looked at the text message, "Are we on for tonight?" it read. Ethan slowed his jog to a walk. Checking both ways, he stepped into the street and stared at the message. Was this the guy she had been with? He paged through all of the text messages-David, Carl, Russ, Jessie. My God, there was more than one indiscretion. A car horn blew. Adrenaline rushed threw Ethan's body, quickening the beat of his heart. Sounds of screeching tires filled his ears. He looked up just in time to see the car rounding the corner, coming at him. With a crushing thud, Ethan was knocked up and over the hood of the car. Blackness. Angela? Can you hear me? Laughter, like little bells.

"Of, course I can hear you," Angela said. Her gaze met Ethan's after a moment.

"So, did you fall in or something?" He asked.

"Fall in?"

"Yes, what took you so long in the bathroom?"

"I can't go to the bathroom without a bunch of questions?"

"Angela, it was a joke," Ethan looked at Angela. She ate her salad. He looked in the direction Angela had been looking. Ethan observed the smooth honey brown skin of the man which was in direct contrast to his much lighter, easily sunburned skin. He watched the man run his hand through the forest of thick silky curls that adorned his head. Ethan felt a tinge of jealousy. He saw his own hair as a non-eventful action--straight and lifeless. This man sat smiling to himself with straight white teeth, something else that Ethan couldn't help but notice. They made eye contact for just a moment. The man, still smiling, paid for his drink and left. A slow warm nausea rolled through Ethan. He looked back at Angela. She fumbled with the button of her blouse, not meeting his gaze. She was with him-just moments ago. Why didn't he notice this before? Because you choose not to, he answered himself. He wasn't ready to believe she would do that...

"Do what?" Angela asked, hands on hips.

"Just a simple call, Angela, to let me know you're okay," Ethan said.

"You're not my father, Ethan, just my husband."

"Just be courteous, Angela."

Ethan sighed when Angela left the room. Icy cold sadness choked him, making it difficult to breath for a moment, but it was okay. She just needed her space. That was the type of girl Angela was and he needed to be more excepting of that.

Ethan pretended to be asleep when Angela returned. His stomach lurched with a sickening churn at the smell of faint cologne. He didn't wear cologne. Funny, Ethan hadn't noticed that before. This marriage would work. He could handle anything from Angela, so he thought...

Weightless, Ethan drifted upward towards brightness. A gradual feeling of solidity eventually grounded him. Ethan struggled to open his eyes. Where am I? He looked around the sterile room. There was a monotonous beeping-a hospital room, must be.

Blurry at first, the room came into focus and so did Angela with a distant, calculating expression on her face.

"I thought I'd lost you," she said.

Well, yes, my dearest Angela, you actually have, Ethan thought, closing his eyes.