Devoted Love, Mr. Hayes’ Darling Wife

These days, Nico has had workmen restore the small building at the back of the villa back to its original state.

Although the small building still shows signs of having burned down, it is no longer a problem to live in, and the furniture inside, which is identical to the original, is as good as when Micaela lived in it.

At night, Nico couldn’t sleep; it had been a while since too many tranquilizers had created a durability that was beginning to do nothing for his sleep, even if it was a long-acting tranquilizer.

All night long, I couldn’t sleep, like a dead husk of a walking corpse.

Nico came into the attic alone.

He sat by the old bier in the attic and looked up at the bright moonlight.

The Holy City April day and slightly cooler night.

Not far away, in the village area, some people seem to be celebrating a happy occasion and setting off a myriad of fireworks.

Those fireworks, bright and fleeting, shine brightly.

Through the noise of the fireworks, Nico can see Micaela sitting in this small attic, alone, watching the fireworks fill the dark room with light for countless moments.

How wonderful it would have been if all those lights falling in her eyes had been fireworks lit by her own hands.

But, after all, he had missed his appointment.

Nico sat by the window pane, touched the diamond ring and looked at it for a long time, puzzled.

The diamond ring, which he had painstakingly auctioned off and which had been designed by the best jewelry designer in the world, had been ready for a long time and he was just waiting for the right moment to propose to her.

But it’s funny, she’s not waiting for him to propose, she’s already asking him to marry her.

Nico thought at that moment that the girl he had his eye on was so different, what kind of girl does he propose.

But he didn’t tell her, at that moment, how happy he was and how excited he was.

Such an expensive and unique diamond ring is not particularly glamorous when it looks like that today, as if it’s the only way to look good and flashy when worn on the hand.

…

In the middle of the night, Savanna woke up, worried that something had happened to Nico in the trance, and went to check on him, only to find Nico’s bedroom door open and that he was no longer in the bedroom.

Savanna found the small attic and, as soon as she climbed the wooden staircase, she planted herself in front of the door and saw Nico sitting in front of the coffin in the window, staring at it with a frustrated look on his face.

Savanna stood there for a long time, not daring to disturb him, knowing he was thinking about Miss Micaela.

But Nico couldn’t sleep all night, but it wasn’t an option. When people are gone, there is nothing left, but those who are alive, continue to live well.

Savanna couldn’t bear to interrupt but had to speak, “Brother, Miss Micaela has been gone for many days, in fact…. we should bury her ashes, choose a piece of feng shui land, the funeral ceremony should be done in a low profile, but it should take place, what do you think … what do you think?”

Nico looked at the diamond ring on her finger and was silent for a long moment before asking, “How come you all think she’s dead and I don’t feel it?”

Savanna froze slightly.

Nico twisted his head to look at her standing in the doorway, with supplication and doubt hidden in his gaze as he asked, “Savanna, do you think … Micaela is dead too?”

Savanna’s fingers poked at the door, tangled, pursing her little lips and daring to speak.

Afraid to say the wrong thing.

After much thought, Savanna said, “Brother, Miss Micaela’s ashes cannot be left unburied, it is not good.”

Nico seemed to have finally had enough and didn’t bother to argue with them, saying, “Do what you want.”

Savanna swallowed saliva.

But who was it that blocked the news of Micaela’s death in the first place?

It was as if Nico was lying to everyone, pale and impotent, telling them all that Micaela wasn’t dead, that she wasn’t dead.

Savanna wasn’t sure about the burial and asked, “Brother, is that something you … must inform Miss Micaela’s grandmother?”

Malia, who is still unaware of her granddaughter’s passing.

Malia is too old to bear the emotions.

Nico said, “No need, this is something I know very well. The others, they don’t have to pay for this.”

Savanna froze, and it dawned on her that Nico was not crazy, sober to the core, but trying to be, trying to fool himself that Miss Micaela was not dead.

Savanna was relieved that Nico was in a clear state of mind and left.

In the small attic, Nico was alone again.

Nico looked up at the urn and Micaela’s picture on the high table not far away and gave a tired fake smile, “Micaela, I still don’t want to admit that you’re really gone, but everyone reminds me that you’re really gone. In fact, I didn’t need to be reminded, I knew you were gone. I was the one who pulled you out of the fire that night, so how could I not know, I can’t afford to lie to myself, or am I not even qualified to lie to myself about the fact that you are no longer dead?”

On the other side of the window, fireworks continue to bloom in the sky, emitting a screeching sound, which is obviously a carnival, but the sound of the fireworks makes Nico feel more and more alone.

…

Micaela’s ashes, buried on a windy and beautiful day.

Nico chose a feng shui place with a high degree of privacy, located on a hill and surrounded by water, with Micaela’s only grave.

Nico planted an acacia tree near her headstone, fearing that she would be alone.

He said to me with a smile, “I wanted to transplant that big acacia in the yard, but if it comes to keep you company, who will come to keep me company, you make concessions, who told me I was used to being selfish, wait until later, when I’m tired of living, I’ll come to keep you company. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on, I was born a human being and I find it so unethical to commit suicide to be one. But if I miss you too much, I’ll come looking for you.”

It was said in a lighthearted way, as if death were a simple event, not unique, not significant.

A picture of Micaela’s life had been placed on that tombstone.

Nico leaned over and dropped an affectionate kiss on the drawing on that tombstone, smiling, but his eyes were red at the corners as he looked at his tombstone and said, “They say ghosts return to their nests on the seventh day of the first month, why didn’t you come to scare me too?”

All his life he had been a staunch materialist, but she didn’t know that she was the only one who expected him to have an afterlife.

But she, presumably, was reluctant.

But with someone as overbearing as Nico, the issue of whether there is an afterlife or not is up to him.

On that tombstone, engraved in striking cursive handwriting -.

“Nico’s loving wife.”

…

That Christmas Eve, Nico set off lots and lots of fireworks under the small attic.C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.

The fireworks, in rows and rows, shot off into the sky, making a screeching, ear-pleasing sound and blooming in the dark, churning sky.

Nico alone, dressed in black, standing at the back of the attic, looking up at the sky of lit fireworks, said quietly, “Micaela, I have lit fireworks for you, come and meet me in my dreams tonight if you like.”

After Micaela left, Nico missed her very much, but strangely, Micaela never entered his dreams.

Like a painful punishment and torture.

For the better part of a year, Nico has also spent much more time losing sleep than sleeping.

Even the business of dreaming is a luxury, not to mention the beauty of being able to dream about Micaela.