I can’t believe that after years of waiting, fate has brought her to my side.
I step away, my eyes tracing over our marriage certificate.
The lawyer picks up the paperwork, tapping it against the edge of the table to straighten it. “I’ll file this for you and send you a copy for your records.”
“Thank you. You can let yourself out. The guards will open the security gate for you.” I gesture towards the door. On a normal day, I’d walk him out, but I don’t want to leave Georgie alone.
“Let me show you your room.” I cock my head to the side, inviting her to follow me.
She pouts in anger and storms in the direction I indicated.
The maroon ball gown, torn and dirty, trails around her body, hanging lose in some places, but still looking beautiful.Imagine if she looks so gorgeous in this mess of a dress, what she’d look like in a dress that deserves to be on her body.
In the guest room, I flick the lights on. A clean, bright white room with the bare essentials lies before us.
“No cuffs? No ropes to make sure I don’t run away?” she snaps.
“I think I’ve made your choices clear. You can run, but it’s men like Koskos you’ll be dealing with instead of me.”
“Are you any better than them, Kristopher?” she asks, biting.
I sneer and tower over her. “I might be dangerous, but I amnota monster. I amnothinglike Koskos,” I snarl.
“Maybe not from your perspective. But we’re all blind to our own demons,” she says, as cold as ever. My eyes pierce into hers, trying to read her mind, trying to understand if she really sees me that way. But she’s been through a lot over these past few days; I can’t judge her harsh words. She needs rest. She needs to feel safe.
I step back and gesture around the room. “Make yourself at home. Tomorrow, I’ll have them bring you some clothes and whatever else you need.”
She says nothing but continues to glare hatred at me.
For some reason, I’m struggling to walk away.
Georgie is in my home. She’s my wife.
She’s mine.
I want to celebrate this dream, this becoming of reality of a fantasy I’ve obsessed over for years.
I want to push her onto the bed and claim her like I should have claimed her that night.
But I find it inside myself to step away.
I manage to gather my self-control and walk towards her bedroom door.
“Get some rest, Georgie. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot. My bedroom is right down the hallway if you need me…during the night. For anything at all. I’m here for you, okay?” I say gently.
She says nothing, so reluctantly, I walk away, pulling her door half-closed behind me.
As I walk down the hallway towards my bedroom, I hear her door slam the rest of the way.
It doesn’t matter.
All that matters is that she’s safe.
Still, when I climb into bed that night, I toss and turn for hours. I listen, straining my ears, waiting for her to call my name or knock on my door. Wishing for it.
But it doesn’t happen.
Finally, in the very early hours of the new day, I drift into dreams of her. My wife. The most magnificent creature I’ve ever set my eyes on.
