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Clyde stared out the window as rain streamed down the glass, thunder roaring dimly. He was having one of those nights, where the rain would remind him of things he’d rather forget.
Rani’s words, filled with a venom he’d never heard from her before that day, were ringing in his ears: “I hate you!”
“It’s not true,” he muttered to himself, careful not to speak loud enough to disturb the woman next to him. “It was just the curse.”
He took a deep breath and looked away from his window and over at his wife.
Rani looked so peaceful, one hand stretched out from where she would rest it on him before going to sleep.
“It’s not true,” he whispered to himself again as the hateful look on Rani’s face fifteen years ago flashed in his mind. “It’s not true.”
He sighed and shook his head. He wasn’t going to sleep. Maybe he should go out there. He could ring the night manager at Unity Shelters and see if they had beds available – maybe he could find some rough sleepers to help that night. There weren’t usually any beds but that was because Unity Shelters was good at making sure any empty bed was immediately given to someone who needed it. Still, it was worth a go.
He got up as quietly as he could, heading over to the wardrobe to grab some clothes. Unfortunately, as the wardrobe creaked open, he heard his wife stir.
“Hey,” she said, slowly sitting up in bed, voice thick with sleep. “What’s wrong?”
Clyde gave a tight smile. “Couldn’t sleep. It’s raining pretty bad out there. Might go and see if I can find a place for some rough sleepers, get them a bed until the worst of the rain passes.”
“Okay,” she replied, somewhat patiently. “But what’s bothering you? Why can’t you sleep?”
“That kid of ours snores really loudly,” Clyde joked, looking meaningfully at Rani’s middle where she wasn’t quite showing yet.
“Clyde.” The warning in her voice wasn’t in anyway harsh – it was more affectionate than anything else – but Clyde still flinched at the sound of his name. Unfortunately, his brilliant wife seemed to notice it.
She let out a little sigh and got out of bed, walking over to him. She gently placed her arms on his shoulders, directing him to face her.
“The Curse?” she asked, placing a hand on his cheek.
Clyde shrugged a little. “Heavy rain, you know. Reminds me of it sometimes.” He tried for a smile but it fell flat.
Rani gave a gentle little sigh and brought her other hand to his face so that she was cupping it. She rubbed her thumb over his cheek.
“Clyde Langer,” she said with a slow determination. Clyde flinched again. “I love you.”
Clyde relaxed a little at those words and stared up at Rani’s face. Every feature on it spelled out sincerity, certainty and affection.
He leaned his forehead against hers, releasing a slow breath.
“Say it again?” he asked, his hands finding themselves on her waist.
“Clyde Langer, I love you.”
He huffed out a little relieved laugh and wrapped himself around her, hugging her close. Her arms went around his back and held him there.
“Again?” he whispered into the skin of her neck.
“Clyde Langer, I love you.”
He almost completely sagged into her as the tension that had wrapped its way around his body released it’s hold on him. “Again.”
“Clyde Langer, I love you.”
She didn’t sound fed up of saying it – she continued to say it with vigour and honesty.
Clyde couldn’t help but pull back slightly, but only far enough to place his lips on hers, pouring every ounce of gratefulness and love he had into the kiss. When they parted, without his prompting, Rani whispered again: “Clyde Langer, I love you.”
Clyde pulled her back into him and kissed her again, deeper and even more meaningfully. This continued on, and every time they drew breath Rani would say those life-giving words: “Clyde Langer, I love you.”
If tears had begun falling down his face, landing on both his cheeks and Rani’s, neither one said anything.
Later he would let himself cry, allow the pain of those days and the relief that it was over pour out of him. For now, all he wanted was to be held by her and loved by her as she said his name over and over, erasing any memory of the words she’d said when affected by the curse.