I was lying on the bed, completely stiff, with my hands shaking. Outside, the rain hit the sheet roof with a constant, melancholy sound.
The door of the room slowly opened.
Miguel walked in with his uneven pace, holding a glass of water in his hand.
“Take,” he said in a soft voice. Drink a little… it will help you to calm down.
I took the glass without daring to look at it directly.
Then he turned off the light carefully, accommodated the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed.
The silence in the room was so thick that it could almost be touched.
I closed my eyes tightly.
My heart was beating uncontrollably while waiting… not knowing exactly what was going to happen.
A mixture of nerves, fear and resignation took over me.
Then, a few seconds later, I heard his voice very low in the dark…
You can sleep easy. I’m going to sleep on the floor.
I opened my eyes suddenly.
“What…?” I whispered, confused.
Miguel let out a little nervous laugh.
“I know you don’t love me,” he said honestly. And I also know that you married me because you were tired of waiting. I don’t want to force you to anything.
I felt something inside my chest shuddering.
In the dim light coming through the window, I saw him spread an old blanket on the floor by the bed.
“It’s enough for me to be able to take care of you,” he added. If you ever decide you want to leave… I’ll help you do it.
My hands stopped shaking.
At that time I understood something I had never understood in all those years looking for love in the wrong places.
Maybe… true love wasn’t the one that came with great promises.
Perhaps it was the one who remained silent, waiting without demanding anything in return.
And as the rain kept falling outside, for the first time in many years… I felt my heart begin to calm down.
The rain continued to fall throughout the night, gently tapping the sheet roof as if it wanted to lull the silence of the house.
I stayed in bed, eyes open in the dark.
Down on the ground, I could hear Miguel’s quiet breathing.
I hadn’t insisted.
I hadn’t tried to get close.
I hadn’t even touched my hand.
He had only spread his old blanket, had lay down carefully so he wouldn’t make a noise… and he had said good night with such a soft voice that it almost seemed like an apology.
That left me restless.
For years I had thought I understood men. He had met charming, self-confident, ambitious men who promised eternal love.
But he had also known betrayal, lies, empty promises.
And now, the only man who didn’t demand anything from me was precisely the one I had married almost for resignation.
I looked down.
“Miguel…” I whispered.
He responded immediately, as if he hadn’t been asleep.
“Yes?”
Are you awake?
“Yes.
There was a little silence.
“You didn’t have to sleep on the floor,” I said.
Miguel let out a soft laugh.
“It’s okay. I’m used to it.
“But it’s our wedding night.
“That’s exactly why,” he replied calmly. I don’t want you to remember tonight as something that made you feel obligated.
His words struck me in a strange way.
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