REBORN

I stood on the balcony of my house with a glass of wine in my hand, reflecting on my life, trying desperately to find where it had all gone wrong.

What happened to my life? How did I end up at this point?

“Alda.”

I turned to find my mum standing behind me.

“Hey, Mum.”

“What is wrong, sweetie? You looked so lost when I walked in. And since when did you start drinking?”

“Don't worry, Mum, it’s not an alcoholic drink. How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to know that something is bothering you. What is wrong? Is Seth not treating you well? Is he giving you a hard time?”

“No, Mum, Seth has been everything to me.”

I couldn't believe I had just said that.

I looked my mum straight in the eye and lied to her.

I just couldn't drag her into my hell. I had always been the perfect child, and the thought of disappointing my parents terrified me. I had always seen that unwavering trust in their eyes, and it would destroy me if I ever became the reason that trust faded.

“You look troubled. I know you too well, Alda. Whenever you zone out like that, it means something is eating you up inside.”

“Mum, I'm fine,” I assured her.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was my driver.

That could only mean one thing.

I had to go back.

Back to my doom.

Back to my hell.

“Mum, I have to go. Tell Dad I’ll come visit him at his office.”

“Alda, wait.”

She walked up to me and took my hands in hers.

“Mum, what’s wrong?”

“Alda, I'm sorry if you ever felt like we pushed you into marrying Seth. I know your dad and I haven't been the best parents, but we have always wanted what was best for you.”

“Mum, you don't have to apologise to me. You both gave me enough time to get to know Seth before marrying him.”

I swallowed hard.

“I love Seth. That’s why I married him.”

“Are you happy with him?”

I nodded in response, struggling to hold back the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.

“Mum, I have to go. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay. Take care.”

The moment my back was turned to her, I let the tears fall.

How was I supposed to explain to her that Seth — the man I had once loved so deeply, the man I had cherished with everything in me — had changed?

He was now the complete opposite of himself.

He stayed out late and came home every night reeking of alcohol. He no longer ate my food, and worst of all… he no longer made love to me.

I couldn't understand where it had all gone wrong.

We had only been married for six months. Seth had been nothing but a gentle, loving man toward me.

But everything changed after he attended a meeting in California.

I just didn't understand what had happened while he was away.

“Let's go, Albert.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The closer we got to our house, the more anxious I became.

Should I even call it a home?

A home was supposed to bring comfort, warmth… peace.

But all I felt within those walls was the complete opposite.

“Ma’am, we just arrived.”

Albert’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I thanked him, got out of the car, and headed upstairs to set the table for dinner.

I slipped out of my dress immediately and started preparing Seth’s favourite meal — fish puttanesca.

I just hoped he would make it home on time before the food grew cold.

Once I finished setting the table, I went upstairs to take a bath while waiting for Seth to return.

I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, drying my hair, when I suddenly heard loud noises coming from downstairs.

My heart lurched.

I rushed down immediately, not caring that I was only wearing a bathrobe or that my bare feet slapped against the cold floor.

The noise was coming from the dining room.

I walked in to see what had caused the commotion, and my breath caught in my throat.

Seth stood in the middle of the room.

The food I had cooked was scattered everywhere.

The dining room was a disaster.

Broken glasses littered the floor, and my expensive ceramic plates lay shattered into pieces.

His back was turned toward me.

I couldn't see his face.

“Honey… what's going on?”

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

He turned to face me, anger burning visibly in his eyes.

Why was he so furious?

What happened at work that had him this angry?

“I'm sure we can talk about this if something is bothering you.”

“Talk about it?” he barked. “Do you really think talking can solve this?!”

He screamed directly in my face.

I felt my knees weaken.

Why was he acting this way?

“I'm sure if you tell me what it is, I can help you fix it. Is your company having problems? I can talk to my parents, and they can help us.”

“Do you really think I want your parents’ money?” he snapped. “Your dad already looks at me like I'm some beggar who doesn't deserve his perfect little princess.”

“Seth, that's not true. My parents love you. They accepted you as their son-in-law.”

“I really don't blame you,” he scoffed. “You're stuck in your own perfect little world, and you think that's how life is for everyone else.”

“Okay… I'm sorry,” I said quickly. “I apologise for not understanding you. Please, just tell me what's wrong so I can help. I want my Seth back. This… this isn't you.”

“Then I guess you don't know me at all.”

He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand.

“Please… I want my husband back. I want my gentle, caring husband back. Can't we go back to the peaceful life we had before?”

“Get your hands off me.”

He shoved me away.

I stumbled backward and crashed to the floor.

A sharp pain tore through my leg.

One of the broken bottles had sliced into my skin.

He didn't care that he had pushed me down.

He didn't even bother to look back.

He just walked away.

Where did it all go wrong?

Why did it feel like my husband had become a complete stranger?

I forced myself up, wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks.

Did I really deserve this?

I managed to drag myself toward my first-aid kit and began cleaning the wound.

Just then, my phone started ringing.

It was Annaliese.

“Hey, Anna…”

“Alda, what's wrong? Why do you sound like that?”

“Anna… I'm going to lose my mind. Please come to me before I completely fall apart.”

“Give me a few minutes. I'll be there. Don't hang up, okay?”

“Okay.”

She stayed on the line with me the entire time, talking softly until she arrived.

“Oh my God.”

Her voice filled the room the moment she stepped inside.

“What happened here? Why are you bleeding? Where is Seth?”

I couldn't answer.

The second I saw her, I burst into tears.

Anna wrapped her arms around me as I cried uncontrollably.

She rubbed soothing circles against my back, trying desperately to calm me down.

“Hey… it's okay. Why are you sitting on the floor surrounded by broken plates and glass? Were you robbed?”

“No.”

“Then what happened?”

“Seth came back… and he was so angry. I was in the shower when all this happened.”

My voice cracked.

“Anna, I'm confused. What happened to him?

This isn't him. He has changed, and nothing I do makes him happy anymore. He won't even talk to me… or eat my food.”

“Oh, sweetie… it's okay.”

She gently wiped at my tears.

“Don't beat yourself up over this. I'm sure he'll come around. Maybe he's having problems at work.”

“But why won't he talk to me?” I whispered painfully. “He used to tell me everything. Whenever he was struggling, he always came to me, and we'd figure things out together.”

“People change, Alda. The sooner you accept that, the lighter this burden will become.”

Her voice softened.

“You are not responsible for Seth’s decision to change.

That was his choice.

So stop blaming yourself.”

“Anna… I just want my husband back.”

Fresh tears spilled down my face.

“I would do anything… anything… just to have the life we had four months ago.”

“Stop blaming yourself. And where the heck is Seth?”

“He left.

He just turned around and walked away.”

“I’m staying with you tonight.”

She stood up carefully.

“Now, let me cover your wound so you can go get dressed. Your hair is still dripping wet. Go dry it properly and change into something warm while I clean up this mess.”

“Thank you, Anna. You're the best.”

“Now wipe those tears off your face and give me a smile.”

I managed to force a small smile onto my face, but I still couldn't stop crying.

At least… I wasn't alone.

At least I had Anna beside me at a time like this.