Hold My Tear, I’m Getting My Wife Back!

Phillip gently pushed the hand that was playfully pinching at his waist away, "Careful, you've got a needle stuck in."

"Anyone who messes with kids gets the firing squad," Tina playfully aimed her finger gun at his heart, making a "pew pew" sound.

"Are you a kid?" Phillip asked with a smirk.

"I'm a twenty-six-year-old baby," she quipped, "and you must be a pervert."

Phillip was speechless.

She was fussy like a drunk after a wild party, causing a ruckus and resorting to biting Phillip whenever her headache turned severe, as if to share her misery in the name of fairness and justice. Phillip was surprisingly patient with her, even when she left bite marks on his neck.

As dawn broke and the hospital became busier, with the morning rush hour traffic flowing like a river in the early light, Tina finally calmed down and fell asleep in his arms.

Phillip's phone buzzed on the bedside table. He quickly silenced it, careful not to wake her.

When Tina woke up, the room was bright with daylight.

The IV bags were empty, the needle no longer in her arm.

Her fever seemed to have subsided a bit, her head not as painful.

Phillip was still there, holding her, wrapped in her embrace like a man trapped in an octopus's arms.

At her slightest movement, he opened his eyes.

"You awake?"

Tina nodded, her voice nasal, noting it was already past ten on the wall clock, "Don't you have to be at the office?" "I've got nothing urgent this morning," he said, though his phone had rung multiple times, hinting otherwise.

After being discharged and waiting for the elevator, Tina leaned into Phillip, who wrapped his arms around her. The elevator doors opened, and out stepped a kindly-looking lady.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"Phillip?" Her surprised gaze flicked between him and Tina.

Tina recognized her but couldn't place her, nodding politely as Phillip spoke to her, clearly an acquaintance.

Back home, after changing into

slippers, Tina mentioned she'd sleep a bit more since her fever was almost gone, urging Phillip totend to his matters.

He prepared her medication and watched her take it before leaving.

Sleep, being the best medicine, helped Tina wake up refreshed in the afternoon.

Phillip had arranged for a meal, a steaming bowl of chicken soup their housekeeper served after she woke up.

Feeling restless after the long sleep,

Tina wandered the house, eventually exploring Phillip's study, curious about the new rows of photography books and collections he had.

History of Photography, The Art of Composition, Starlake Academy of Photography Textbook...

These books bore signs of being read, with notes and highlights Phillip had made.

Photography had never been his interest.

Had he immersed himself in

photography books attempting to find common ground with her, after she had cited a lack of shared interests as a reason for calling off their engagement?

Feeling adrift, Tina replaced the book and returned to the bedroom.

Opening Phillip's closet, she found her belongings and clothing, left there six months ago, still in place, untouched.