Chance That
Drunk Off Love
“I gave us a chance,” Liana said in a calm tone, as if she’d practiced in front of the bathroom mirror, as though she had everything figured out. She tucked her long, dark bangs behind her ear and moved her eyes at him.
Mark arched a brow. “What chance?” Mark’s voice quivered, his arms rising and falling in a desperate gesture. “What chance did you give me?” His gaze locked with Liana’s, her eyes a deep, unfathomable blue. “Go on and say it.”
Liana sighed and bit her fingernail. “I know it looks bad,” she said.
Mark’s indecision was palpable. “Bad?” he huffed, retreating to the oak kitchen table and pouring himself a glass of rum over ice. The walls were adorned with family photos, a stark reminder of happier times. The cherry trim that edged the walls seemed to frame Liana’s infidelity.
“You want it to be,” Liana replied. “But it’s not that simple.” She looped one arm around her waist and brushed away a tear with the other hand. “You make it sound so easy.” Liana’s facade crumbled before Mark’s feet, even if only in the tremble in her voice.
Mark’s fingers combed through his long, dark hair. His voice was low and filled with an unspoken threat: “Look, it’s either him or me.”
“And that’s it?” Mark’s voice cracked with a mix of disbelief and hurt. “Can’t we just see other people?”
“Are you…” Mark narrowed one eye, brought his hand to his neck, and moved his nails around the back.
“In our bed?” Liana said. “Really?” She held panties with the edge of her pointer finger.
as though sweaty sex had drenched them.
Mark bit his lip.
“It’s not what-”
“Oh,” Liana said, shoving her finger into his chest. “It’s exactly what I think!”
Mark finished his rum and set the glass on the table. “I made a mistake.”
“And so did I,” Liana said.
“I lied.”
“I know.”
“No,” Liana said, “you don’t understand.”
Mark folded his arms and traced her lips for answers.
these are mine.”
“What?”
“You get drunk with your friends and forget what you do,” Liana said.
Mark wiped his hand across the beads glistening on his forehead. “But you did,” Mark said. “You cheated.”
“One last chance.” Liana approached Mark. “Get sober, or it’s over.”
Mark and Liana embarked on a journey
to sobriety together. He decided to change
his circle of friends and give up his nights
at the bar for game nights with his wife and their two daughters.
Once, Mark’s life was hanging by a thread,
but a miracle saved him.
Liana revealed to him that she had not cheated
on him but instead had refocused his attention
on what truly mattered. Finally, the cancer
that had been plaguing Mark’s body was defeated.
They sat on a porch swing, enjoying
the cool autumn breeze as the moon cast
a serene reflection on the still lake in the distance. “I’m grateful that we gave our relationship a second chance,” Liana whispered, snuggling into Mark’s arms.
(© 2024 AC.)
