Love Wilts Like a Flower

After an accident and miscarriage, Hansel Saddler and I are so devastated that we're both diagnosed with depression.

For the next five years, I try my best to act like I'm normal as I care for him and try to cheer him up. This lasts until I overhear him speaking to the psychologist at the clinic's door.

"Work's been getting busy lately, and pretending to be depressed makes it inconvenient to deal with that. Can you change my diagnosis to manic disorder?"

The psychologist giggles. "You have been quite manic lately, darling. You've been making me feel really sore down there."

"I can make you feel even more sore now."

Then, I hear moans and groans.

It turns out everything I've done over the past five years is nothing but a joke.

I pull up my conversation with Colin Foster. "I agree to undergo secluded treatment deep in the mountains abroad."

I received a voice message from the hospital director, Colin Foster.

He said in relief, "Thank goodness! You finally said yes! Don't worry. We have the most professional medical team at your service. Your condition will improve for sure."

I stared at the horrifying, criss-cross scars on my wrist with a bitter smile.

Hansel Saddler had no idea that I had suffered from severe depression after that miscarriage five years back. I had been taking care of him all this while and seeing a professional behind his back.

However, as my depression worsened, I could not stop the urge to self-harm.

Meanwhile, Hansel faked his depression, letting me—the actual patient who acted like everything was fine—take care of him.

The movements in the therapy room grew louder and more aggressive.

"Don't forget the protection."

"Darling, I want a baby. What do you think?" asked Giselle Pellington.

Moments of silence later, Hansel agreed in a deep voice. "Sure."

Hansel had stopped me from calling him "darling" ever since he started faking his depression. He'd refuse any acts of intimacy. All I could do was call him by his first name.

In the past five years, he had not touched me once. Even when I gave him a soft hug, he'd heartlessly push me away.

It was only now that I realized he had been doing that with another woman.

My tears fell to the floor in silence. Taking two deep breaths, I turned around and left.

I drove myself to the embassy to get my visa done.

"Your visa will be approved in a week's time."

…

I got home, only to be greeted by the sight of Hansel lying in Giselle's arms. He wore a relaxed smile, looking as if he were asleep.

His eyes fluttered open when he heard my movements.

Giselle glared at me.

"Melissa, why didn't you pick Hansel up today? Do you really not care about him? You're a failure of a wife, and the reason he ended up in this state!"

Instead of apologizing like I always did, I merely offered an explanation.

Giselle