James came home from work exhausted and immediately collapsed onto the couch.
— Why are you sprawled out like that? — his surprised wife asked.
— I’m completely worn out today, Emma. I’ll lie here for a bit. If you’re really hungry, go ahead and eat without me.
— Eat? — Emma’s surprise grew. — We’re not eating here tonight. Have you forgotten where we’re supposed to be going?
— Oh, God… — James groaned, remembering what she meant, his face contorting in misery. — You know what, darling, I don’t want to go anywhere tonight. I don’t want to, and I can’t. I’m too tired.
— Have you lost your mind? — Emma’s breath caught at his audacity. — In case you forgot, we were invited by important people, not just anyone. I’ve been looking forward to this for a whole month. I bought a new dress, new shoes, and now you’re telling me you don’t want to go? Get up, put on your best suit, and let’s go.
— No… — James looked at her pleadingly. — I can’t. I’m exhausted, and… honestly, I don’t want to see those people. I don’t want to sit at their table and fake smiles.
— Why not? — Emma asked, baffled. — They’re perfectly nice people. What’s gotten into you, dear husband?
— I don’t know. But every time I see that couple, pretending to love everyone, my soul just… aches. It physically hurts. My soul can’t stand such obvious hypocrisy.
— Why are you telling me this? — Emma shot him a stern glare. — What’s the point? Trying to ruin my mood?
— The point is, they don’t care about anyone but themselves, don’t you get it? They don’t. They only invited us to show off their fancy new renovation.
— So what? — Emma smirked. — What’s the big deal? Everyone’s a bit fake these days. Get up and stop whining.
— Not everyone is like that, — James protested. — I’m not, for example. Even now, just talking about them, my soul’s twisting with this bad feeling…
— Oh, your soul’s twisting, is it? — Emma pursed her lips. — Get some fresh air, and you’ll feel better.
— It won’t help. The soul isn’t like lungs or a heart. It’s the soul. You have to listen to it.
— Get up, I said. What kind of man are you? — Emma tried to pull him up, but it was no use. — You treat your soul like it’s some antique suitcase. A modern person should live with their head, not their soul. Their brain. Think about what’ll happen if we don’t go. They might think badly of us. They’ll never help us again. And we’ve borrowed money from them before, remember? Not small amounts, either.
— You borrowed. I paid it back. And besides, I’m earning well now. We don’t need so-called friends like them.
— That’s now. But what about tomorrow? What if things change? We need to plan ahead.
— I don’t want to live like that! — James insisted stubbornly. — My soul won’t let me.
— Your soul again? — Emma nearly growled in frustration. — Listen, your soul is starting to get on my nerves. Stop talking about it!
— Why? — James stared at her in genuine confusion. — Don’t you ever feel your soul ache?
— No, it doesn’t!
— How is that possible?
— I don’t know. And honestly, why do I need a soul when I have a beautiful body? — Emma smirked suddenly, striking a pose as if she were about to be photographed for a glossy magazine. — Look how great this new dress looks on me. It’s stunning, right?
— What?
James couldn’t believe his ears. What his wife had just said so casually was a revelation to him. A horrific, almost catastrophic revelation.
But Emma didn’t notice his alarmed eyes. She kept gushing about her dress, unaware that she had crossed a line she shouldn’t have.
— I’m saying, James, you didn’t even notice what dress I’m wearing today. You never notice anything! And you’re the one going on about some soul. Last time I’m asking: are you coming with me to this party, or do I go alone?
— Go alone… — James whispered, slowly closing his eyes.
Her high-pitched, shrill voice suddenly grated on him. “God, why didn’t I notice how annoying her voice is before?” he thought. “How have I lived with her all this time?”
— Fine… — Emma shrugged and hurried to the hallway. — I’ll say you’re really sick. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to see me even without you.
And she left, oblivious to the fact that with just one sentence, she had shattered their marriage.
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