The Calm Before the Storm

When he entered the cottage, the laughter of his children filled the air as they played on the floor, illuminated by the soft glow of a single lamp. Maria was cleaning up from dinner, her demeanor calm and collected.

“How was your walk?” she asked, glancing up with a smile that melted his heart, but also deepened the ache in his chest.

“Pretty nice. Just needed to clear my head after a long day,” Javier said, maintaining a steady façade as he settled back into the space.

“Good,” Maria replied, her voice bright, yet there was an unshakeable tension in the atmosphere that hung like a blade ready to fall. “The kids and I are going to play a board game. Want to join?”

“Sure, I'm in!” he agreed, masking the churn within him. Settling in on the living room floor, he surrounded himself with toys and laughter, fighting to keep his mind fixed on the moment rather than the shadows lurking outside their family unit.

As the game unfolded, Javier lost himself in the simplicity of the evening. He reveled in his family’s laughter, their camaraderie filling the room with warmth. Yet, even as the joy enveloped him, he felt the creeping sense of dread lurking just beyond his grasp—an undercurrent that would not relent.

After the game ended, the children climbed into bed, urging Javier to read them their favorite bedtime story. He obliged, his heart swelling with love for the little moments spent together, each shared laugh building a foundation of tenderness. Yet whispers of doubt flickered at the edges of his thoughts, echoing the pending duality of his reality.

When the kids finally fell asleep, Javier tiptoed back to the living room where Maria sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as he entered, a look of warmth washing over her features.

“Ready for a little quiet time?” she asked.

“Definitely,” he replied, sinking onto the couch beside her. They spent a few brief moments together, re-engaging in mundane conversations that made him feel almost normal again. The weight of his secret life hung heavily, yet in those silent night hours, they shared gentle laughter before Maria kissed him goodnight.

Once she disappeared down the hallway, Javier felt the night pressing in around him—a reminder of the choices he had made. As he lay in bed, the events of the day flashed through his mind like a movie reel, each moment steeped in longing and fear.

He reached for his phone and hesitated. Part of him wanted to text Sharla, seeking the comfort in communication that had become their lifeline, while another part held him back, fearing that distraction could break the fragile web of deception he was trying to maintain.

Finally, he decided against it. Instead, he placed the phone on the bedside table, closed his eyes, and tried to let sleep take him, hoping that the morning would bring clarity and ease to the chaos unfolding in his life.