How I want to be loved

A short story about the stormy night when dreams turned into a nightmare

request you all to play this audio while reading for the best possible experience.

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“I am sorry.” He stood there, head down, avoiding her eyes. His clothes dripped, making a puddle on the floor. He could see his reflection, so he looked sideways.

He flinched at her careless laugh. “It’s fine!” She waved her hand away as she moved to hug him and welcome him back.

He looked up, his eyes red with the efforts of holding back his tears.

She pushed his curls away from those eyes, a frown taking over her face at his warm forehead. “Come on, you are going to get sick, Darling.” She took his hand to lead him up, but he stood still, not moving a foot more inside their house.

She turned around to look at him with exasperation this time.

He bit his lip, “I am sorry.” He looked at her for the first time, and a tear escaped.

She took his face in her hand, hugging her with the other to keep him warm, “Hey, it’s all right! What happened? Are you okay?”

“I am sorry.” He placed his hands on top of hers, not willing to let go now.

This time, she searched his eyes, her brows drawn together as thunder cracked outside. It made her jump in his arms a little before she melted, safe with him.

“Love, I…” Lightning struck again, illuminating their surroundings from the windows as he spoke, and she listened.

She blinked her eyes, scoffing with a smile. He dragged her closer, and her eyes widened.

She stumbled back from him. He let her go reluctantly. She turned away from him, her chest heaving.

Her hair flew back as she looked at him, and she did not take a step forward. Her dress was wet from the front.

She rubbed her fingers over her trembling lips before she could let the words out. They came out choked, “Please…please tell me you are lying.”

His chin met his collar and her knees buckled beneath her. He moved to save her from falling. She pushed his hands away while he set her on the chair.

He sat on his knees in front of her. She folded in on herself on the chair, hugging her knees to the chest, peeking at him from above.

“You did this?” She looked at him with the last of her hopes, her vision blurring with full eyes.

He gulped and opened his mouth to say something. She couldn’t look at him.

She hid from him behind herself as tears flowed freely, shaking her whole being. She cried till her eyes stung. He watched her from the ground.

She rested her head sideways on the knees, “Please wake me up. God, please wake me up!”

He broke down. His head fell on her feet as she looked at the pouring rain outside.

“I love you. So much.” She looked at him again. Her breath hitched at the last word.

He grabbed her feet, peeking through the dress, “I love you too, Darling. I…”

She placed her feet on the ground. She took his face in both her hands, stopping him mid-way, “No. You don’t.” Her eyes filled with tears again as one corner of her lip turned upward for a second.

He watched silently as tears found their way to her lips.

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