It felt like an eternity to Rose. Three years had passed since William had left, promising he would return within three months. Three months had stretched into six, six into a year, and now three years later he was still gone.
She shook her head slowly, a gesture of disbelief she could barely process. It shouldn't have been possible. Every day, her mind churned with the impossible, a relentless tide of longing and hurt. She rose from her bed, hoping desperately hoping it had all been a dream.
But when her eyes scanned the familiar corners of her room, there was no miracle waiting. No arms to catch her, no warmth, no William. Just another cruel dream.
She wiped the cold sweat from the tips of her nostrils, and tears slipped freely down her cheeks.
"All I ever did… was love him. Why all this pain? Why all this shock?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. She sank onto her bed, clutching at her knees as memories assaulted her relentlessly.
She remembered his words, so vivid it felt as though he had just spoken them
"I promise, babe… I'll be back before you know it. Nothing can keep me away from you not even my parents."
Her fingers unconsciously clutched the imaginary collar of his shirt, possessive, desperate.
"Stop saying rubbish about parents… it's fine. Just three months, right?" she muttered to herself, her lips quivering with longing.
"I'll be back soon…"
Her head throbbed with the weight of endless speculation. She had thought of every possible reason for his absence, replayed every conversation, every laugh, every promise.