06

Three months into the marriage, Nicholas and Theora have yet to share three words with each other. He goes to work when she’s still sleeping in her bedroom and comes home when she is long asleep. On the rare occurrence they do bump into each other like on the weekends or if Nicholas comes home from the gym early nothing is uttered between the two. Theora freezes in her position not moving till Nicholas has mumbled a few expletives under his breath and stormed off.

Theora not being able to understand his indifference and having no one to talk to except Misha becomes extremely depressed and lost in thought. It hurts when Nicholas isn’t able to stand her for more than a second and is clueless how to change her situation. Neither can she go back home to her parents nor does she see Nicholas changing any time soon.

Sitting on the bay window in the library watching the rain drops fall, her phone and a pile of books lay beside her. Nothing seems to be able to distract her at this point. Theora looks down her phone thinking that she can’t take this anymore she has to tell someone. Grabbing her phone she begins dialling Carmen’s number after a few rings she picks up.

« Wait a sec Yiayia it’s Theora » Theora hears her sister say over the phone.

« Hello » Theora says shakily

« Oh hi Tin… Theora. How’s everything going ? »

« I’m fine how’s the baby doing ? »

« It’s fine and driving me absolutely insane moves around constantly can’t get any sleep or rest during the day » Carmen whines

« BE THANKFUL WOMAN. IN MY DAY CHILDREN WOULD DIE IN THEIR MOTHERS WOMBS EVERY OTHER DAY » Yiayia yelled Theora could hear her mumble something in Greek about not being thankful and displeasing the lord.

« So your at papa’s ? » Theora asked

« Yeah I came over for a while. Christos won’t let me lift a finger and I was bored out of my mind so I came here for the day. Why don’t you come too ? »

Theora thought of it for a second before thinking better of it. She couldn’t properly talk to Carmen there.

« No I’ll come by another day I have to go the mall buy a few things for the house » she lied

« Then make sure to change up that living room those white sofas are hideous » Carmen suggested

« It’s a working process most of the things Nicholas had picked out himself »

« Well then don’t let the man decorate any part of the house again he’s got awful taste »

« Not a second goes by and these girls start complaining of their husbands. In ancient times husbands would beat their wives and when his hands got tired they’d offer him a stick. » Yiayia yelled

« God Yiayia that’s awful » Carmen said

« You girls nowadays want your husbands to be laying down on the ground so your feet don’t get dirty. Be thankful » her Yiayia retorted

« Umm Carmen I have to go »

« Yeah I’ll talk to you later Yiayia has yet to take her crazy medication » Carmen whispered lowly

Theora said goodbye and could hear her Yiayia asking Carmen what she said before hanging up. Theora realises then that she could never gather the courage to tell her family. The disappointment would crush them. Theora thought it best to keep her mind busy in other things and maybe someday Nicholas would change. Getting up from the bay window she went towards the kitchen where Misha was cooking.

« Misha is Roberto here or has he gone with Nicholas ? »

« He’s here outside cleaning the cars » Misha said looking up from the pot she was stirring « Are you planning on going out somewhere ? »

« I was thinking about buying somethings for the house » might as well switch the lie she told into the truth Theora thought.

« Yes that’s so great I’d throw out those ugly sofas first thing » Misha added

« I think your sir Nicholas will throw me out before I even touched them » Theora joked but it stung slightly as she said it. « Well tell Roberto to bring out the car please. I’m going to get ready »

« Sure thing » Misha said putting the burner on low heat before moving out.

Roberto was waiting by the car as Theora exited the house.

« Good Afternoon Mrs. Markopoulos » he greeted holding the car door

« How many times must I say this Roberto call me Theora »

« Mr. Markopoulos insists on keeping formality he’d get angry if he found out »

« Nicholas doesn’t care for these things » Nicholas doesn’t care for me period. Theora added in her mind

« I meant the senior Mr. Markopoulos, Madam »

« Oh » Theora said as she entered the car. There wasn’t much to be said when a senior family member gave out an order everyone just accepted it and moved on.

« Where to Mrs. Markopoulos ? »

« Take me to the antique furniture shops across town please »

« Sure thing »

All in all Theora was happy with her haul she had found some really good decoration pieces for the living room and her bedroom.

As she placed the vase she had bought for the living and placed the decorative pillows on the all white couch she smiled proud of her work. It made a world of a difference the once plain white couch with over the top fluffy pillows with a few colourful pillows now had some character. Theora then went up to her bedroom to fix up her room and for the first time in months felt happy.