Her heart began pounding as her mind raced to process the betrayal. She staggered back, her body trembling with disbelief. Could this really be happening? She felt her world start to crumble around her.
“Hamilton! I saw you two kissing! You and Evie, come out right now!” she yelled, her voice cracking with anger as she tried to compose herself. When no response came, she flung the door open, only to find Hamilton standing there by himself.
“She is not here, Diana,” Hamilton replied, his tone defensive as he tried to justify himself. “This happens every single time you come home after visiting your therapist. You need to stop this! I was just getting things ready to surprise you and you ruined everything! Please stop doing this to yourself… and to me.”
Diana stared at him, her gut telling her something wasn’t right. She couldn’t bring herself to trust his words or believe his excuses.
“Do you trust me now?” Hamilton asked, his frustration barely concealed. “There’s no one here.”
But Diana wasn’t ready to let it go. She wandered through the other rooms of the house, looking for any sign of her sister. Nothing. Hamilton’s suggestion that she might be imagining things made her second-guess herself for a moment. Then, they heard it—a faint splash coming from the bathroom. Was Evie hiding in the bubble bath all along?
Hamilton stood at the doorway, shaking his head and letting out a tired sigh. “There’s no one here, honey. Please! Relax!”
Diana felt her shoulders slump. Was it possible she was overreacting? Doubt began creeping into her mind, making her question everything she thought she had seen.
Hamilton reached out to comfort her. “Let’s forget this, okay? We need to talk about what’s really bothering you. So, what is it?” he said, his tone tender but insistent.
Diana lowered her gaze, her mind clouded with overwhelming thoughts. “I keep feeling like I’m losing my mind,” she confessed, almost whispering. “I think I’m losing you to someone, maybe my own sister.”
Hamilton’s voice brought her back to the present. “Diana! Diana!” he called out, his concern unmistakable. “Hey, why don’t you take a bath?” he suggested gently. “Look, you need to forget what happened that night. I’ll get your favorite bath bomb and prepare your bath. Alright?”
Although hesitant, Diana agreed. As she entered the bathroom, something caught her eye. Written in the fog on the shower door was “Kiss me!”, unmistakably in Evie’s handwriting.
The next day, Diana decided to bring her fears to her therapist, Dr. Carrey. “I think Hamilton might be cheating on me with my sister, Evie. There are signs, like her handwriting and her perfume — I can smell it sometimes when I get home.” she confessed, her voice filled with frustration and sadness.
Dr. Carrey listened attentively, jotting down notes as Diana poured her heart out.
Diana’s gaze drifted as memories tugged at her mind. “I keep hearing this… sound. Like a baby crying in the rain… on the road. It’s unsettling. Keeps haunting me,” she said, her voice trembling under the weight of her emotions.
“A baby? Are you keeping up with your medication?” Dr. Carrey added, his tone steady, trying to ground her in reality.
Dr. Carrey’s eyebrows furrowed as he processed her words. “You’re planning a dinner with Evie? Tonight?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.
“Yes,” Diana replied firmly, her determination not to let the matter rest shining through. “I sent her a message this morning. She replied she’d come.”
She complied, and he studied the messages carefully, his eyes narrowing in focus.
“What are you hoping to find out with this dinner?” he asked, his tone gentle yet probing.
“These messages…” Dr. Carrey murmured, before looking directly at her. “you sent them to your sister?” he asked.
“Yes,” Diana replied honestly. She sighed deeply and continued, “Hamilton and I, we’ve had twelve good years, doctor. It was all perfect until Evie came to the city. Had I known my own sister would try to steal my husband, I would’ve taken Hamilton somewhere far away.”
Diana looked down, her thoughts drifting as she tried to articulate her experience. “I can’t really say. It’s sporadic… when I’m alone, or even when Hamilton’s with me.” she admitted, her voice trailing off.
Dr. Carrey leaned forward slightly, his expression soft but focused. “It’s important to confront these feelings, not let them fester. We’ll work through this together, okay? You have nothing to worry about. Just try not to take too much stress.”
That evening, at dinner, Diana kept a close eye on Hamilton and Evie. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She watched as they shared jokes about their work, each playful remark adding to her unease. Was there more to their laughter than what met the eye?
“Let’s toast to family ties,” Diana said, raising her glass high in an attempt to mask her emotions.
Evie offered an uncertain smile. “Okay, Diana, but why such a formal toast?” she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.
“That’s what family is for, darling,” Hamilton responded warmly. “We’re here for you, always. By the way, this wine has such a unique flavor,” he added, savoring the drink.
“Yes, it’s quite the blend,” Evie chimed in, her voice lighthearted but cautious.
Hamilton and Evie exchanged uneasy glances. “What do you mean?” Hamilton finally asked, his voice unsteady as he refilled his glass.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The secret messages, the laughter, her perfume… I saw it all.” Diana shot back, her words sharp and deliberate.
“It’s a special blend for you two. Merlot with a hint of retribution. Cyanide, perhaps!” Diana revealed, her tone unsettlingly calm.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Hamilton and Evie desperately tried to compose themselves. “Diana, this is madness!” Hamilton shouted as he rushed to the bathroom with Evie.
Moments later, she found herself overwhelmed by the haunting sound of a baby crying. She panicked, muttering under her breath, “Wait! What have I done? Did I kill them? Did I kill my husband and sister?”. In her confusion, she called 911 and then Dr. Carrey, confessing everything in a desperate tone.
Dr. Carrey urged her to stay calm and wait for him to arrive. When he got there, he found her trembling on the floor near the bathroom. “Diana, what happened?” he asked, his voice steady but concerned.
Dr. Carrey approached her carefully, his tone gentle but firm. “There’s no one here, Diana. Remember, you live alone?” he said, trying to guide her back to reality.
Diana shook her head, her mind refusing to grasp the truth. She insisted they were there. That was when Dr. Carrey revealed a startling reality. “You’ve been alone for two years, Diana. Your mind has been playing tricks.”
Dr. Carrey then reminded her of the tragic accident two years ago. He recounted how they had been returning from a dinner when Hamilton insisted on driving. Diana had protested, but fate had other plans.
“I couldn’t save them…” she whispered, her voice trembling with regret. “I just couldn’t…” she added, her tears flowing freely.
Dr. Carrey looked her in the eyes, his voice steady as he spoke. “What happened that night, Diana, was a tragic accident. It was not your fault. You didn’t kill them. You’ve been creating a false reality to cope with your guilt and grief. But it’s time to accept the truth.”
Dr. Carrey showed her the phone logs, proving there was no call to 911, only to him. Diana broke down, overwhelmed by a mix of relief and sorrow. Her grief for Hamilton, Evie, and their unborn child was raw and unfiltered as she clung to Dr. Carrey for solace.
For the first time, she began to let go of the imagined betrayals that had tormented her for years. She accepted the truth of her loss and started to face the difficult road ahead.
Diana sat in Dr. Carrey’s office once more, but this time, the atmosphere was different. The burden she had carried for so long had lifted slightly. Her eyes, once heavy with sorrow, now held a glimmer of hope. She was beginning to heal.
Diana smiled back, her response filled with newfound optimism. “I feel better, Dr. Carrey. I’ve been learning to live again, to honor their memory without the guilt.”
“So, how has your husband been?” Dr. Carrey inquired, watching her closely for any signs of discomfort.
Dr. Carrey nodded, recognizing the strength she had shown in moving forward. “You’ve done exceptionally well, Diana,” he said sincerely. “I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”
Just as their session came to a close, a nurse entered the room to remind them that Diana’s appointment had ended. Diana stood, ready to face the world outside.
As she stepped out of the office, she noticed a stranger holding a baby nearby. Her heart softened, and she smiled warmly at him. “Hi,” she greeted, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Could I hold the baby for a moment?”
Diana was standing outside, seemingly cradling an invisible baby in her arms. A shiver ran through Dr. Carrey as he realized the depth of her ongoing struggle.
“We have a long way to go, Diana,” he whispered under his breath, acknowledging the long road ahead. “A long way.”
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