The Past Is Dust, Still Like a Dream

My husbands childhood friend, the one who grew up next door, could never shake her habit of being hopelessly forgetful.

This time, shed left her phone in my husband Jims office.

When I brought it to her, the screen was still lit up with a search history she hadn't closed:

How to get a strong-willed wife to initiate a divorce after getting pregnant?

"Is using a married man's card for a linked family account considered using their joint marital assets?"

I glanced at it, a grim sort of admiration blooming in my chest. The young women these days certainly had the schemes to match their ambitions.

I locked the screen and took the phone downstairs to her. She seemed surprised that I was the one who brought it.

"Oh, Rhiannon, I'm so sorry to bother you again! I heard you were rushing to a meeting. Let me call a car for you."

I gave a casual nod.

As she tapped away at her phone, I caught a flash of the payment screen. It was the icon for a linked card, and the familiar profile picture on it was none other than my husband, Jim.

A moment later, a voice memo from Jim played from her phone.

"Sadie, look at you, getting the hang of the family card."

Sadie shot an embarrassed look my way, her voice sickly sweet. "I'm just getting a ride for Rhiannon."

"I'll pay you back as soon as I get a job."

I didnt listen to the rest.

The car had already pulled up.

I opened the door, slid inside, and left without a word of goodbye.

That evening, Jim, who was supposed to be on the night shift, was sprawled on the living room sofa. The second he saw me, the complaints started.

"Why did you have to make Sadie call a car for you?"

A knot of frustration tightened in my chest, and my brows drew together. "Is there a problem?"

The words were barely out before the day's grievances came rushing back. Jim was always complaining about the hospital cafeteria food, so I had taken my lunch break to bring him a home-cooked meal. I was in a hurry to get back to my own office for a meeting when he called, just as I was getting into my car.

"Sadie is in a panic. Can you run her phone down to her? She'll be there in a minute."

He hung up before I could even answer.

Thinking of it now, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Is my time somehow less valuable than hers?"

Seeing the storm on my face, Jim quickly changed his tune. "Alright, let's drop it. I just feel for her. She just graduated, no job, no savings. I worry she's having a hard time."

"To you, thirty dollars is nothing, but that could be her food budget for the entire day."

A sharp smile touched my lips, my words laced with sarcasm. "Isn't it your money? Why the heartache?"

Sadie was the girl who grew up next door to Jim. After her parents passed away, Jim had even covered her last two years of college tuition. Sadie always used to say, "Jim, I'm not the kind of girl who just lives off a man. I'll earn my own money and pay you back."

Three months ago, she graduated and moved back to the city, sticking to Jim like glue ever since. Worried I'd get the wrong idea, Jim had rushed me down to city hall to make our marriage official. We were just waiting for his annual leave next month to have the wedding ceremony.

So, even though Sadie had zero sense of boundaries, I usually couldn't be bothered to argue about her.

But this time, Jim didn't try to placate me as I'd expected. Instead, his gaze turned cold.

"What's with the passive-aggressive tone? It's a linked card with a five-hundred-dollar limit. What's the big deal?"

"And what's the big deal about me letting her call a ride for me?" I, who normally hated fighting, refused to back down an inch.

He had once set up a card for me, too. The limit was three hundred. I couldn't even bring myself to buy a cup of coffee with it, terrified of adding to his financial burden.

Looking at his self-righteous expression now, a chill seeped into my bones, erupting into an uncontrollable fire. I held up my phone, Sadies search history glowing on the screen.

"Don't tell me you're going to say there's nothing going on between you two."

The color drained from Jim's face. He lunged for the phone.

I twisted away, but he grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly strong, his voice sharp and urgent. "You don't know anything! Don't you dare spread rumors. How is she supposed to face people if this gets out?"

I froze.

Not from the pain.

But from the foreign panic in his eyes, a panic born purely for someone else.

He stared at me, finally realizing he'd gone too far. His tone softened. "I'm sorry, Ria. I shouldn't have yelled at you. But we're married. Why are you getting worked up over my childhood friend? I promise you, I would never, ever do anything to betray you."

"I'll keep my distance from her from now on. You can just pretend she doesn't exist."

Just then, Jim's phone rang.

He answered it, and as he listened, his expression shifted dramatically.

"You posted this online?"

"I just wanted to get some advice from people! I didn't use any personal information!"

He slammed the phone down onto the plush rug. "How old are you? Are you still playing games on the internet?"

"Didn't you see her Google account name in the screenshot?"

I pulled out my own phone and saw it. The post, somehow, had started trending. Someone had used the information in her account to dig up her real identity.

"Secret Mistress Exposed: Top Surgeon at Seabrook General in Suspected Affair!"

Jim's eyes were bloodshot, his voice trembling. "Are you insane, Rhiannon? Do you want to destroy all of us with public opinion?"

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's not public opinion that's destroying you. It's your complete lack of boundaries."

But he wasn't listening.

He snatched his phone and car keys and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Jim and Sadie weren't crucified by the internet.

To protect its star surgeon, the hospital spent a fortune suppressing the story. Overnight, all the negative comments vanished.

Jim also disappeared for two straight days.

On the third night, he finally came home, reeking of alcohol.

He didn't come into the bedroom, instead making a call from the living room, his voice carrying clearly through the door.

"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help you, and instead, I ended up hurting you."

On the other end, Sadie's voice was thick with tears. "It's nothing. I can take care of myself. Not every woman needs a man. I'm fine on my own."

Jim sighed. "It's a good thing you're so good-natured. Otherwise, who knows how this mess would have ended."

"This whole thing has just shown me that overly aggressive people really aren't likable."

Not likable.

But wasn't he the one who once told me he loved my cool-headed rationality?

Jim asked Sadie for an address. "You're studying for your medical boards, right? I have some materials here, I'll bring them over to you in a bit."

"Also, I spoke with the hospital administration. You can start as an intern with us. You'll be able to work and study under me."

Her tone on the other end finally shifted from sorrow to a soft, happy laugh.

They talked for a while longer before Jim finally remembered to come into the bedroom.

The door swung open.

He saw me and looked a little awkward.

"I got Sadie an internship spot. She can follow me at the hospital and learn. Consider it our apology for what happened the other day."

I let out a derisive laugh but said nothing. I had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to be apologizing for.

I had planned to wait a few days and find a time for the three of us to talk things out face-to-face. But unexpectedly, I, who was usually perfectly healthy, fell ill. It was a nasty bug that lingered for two weeks.

When I went back to the hospital for a follow-up, I passed by Jim's office.

A glance through the glass window showed Sadie sitting inside. Her lab coat was unbuttoned, revealing a miniskirt so short it barely grazed her thighs, a flash of pale legs in the sterile environment.

When she saw me, she didn't even bother to stand up.

"Rhiannon, you were behind that whole thing online, weren't you?"

"I never would have guessed. You look like such a powerful, put-together career woman, but deep down, you're just petty and insecure."

"Do you really think a stunt like that is enough to drive me away from him?"

I laughed softly. "Miss Sadie, you give yourself far too much credit. My time is valuable. I don't have the energy to play your childish games."

She eyed me with a smirk. "But your husband loves these childish games."

"See this skirt? Your husband said only a girl my age could pull it off. Once you're old and washed up, you lose that kind of vitality."

This was the first time she had looked me directly in the eye, making no effort to hide her hostility. Before, whenever Jim was around, she always acted timid and withdrawn, claiming my success intimidated her and she was too scared to be around me.

Now, the fox was finally letting its tail show.

Even though I had already seen through Jim's pathetic, have-it-all nature, Sadie's words"Your husband loves these childish games"still sent a cold stone dropping into my stomach.

Weren't we all "little girls" once?

I took a deep breath, quickly steadying myself.

Just as I was about to fire back, the office door swung open.

A female doctor walked in and sat down across from Sadie, her tone chummy. "It's rare to see you alone. Where's your man?"

"I heard he practically slammed the table in the chief's office to get you this internship. That childhood bond is really something else, huh?"

"You have to put in a good word for me with Dr. Evans. Maybe I can get a chance to scrub in on one of his surgeries."

Only then did she notice me standing by the door. She scowled impatiently. "It's not visiting hours yet. Hospital rules say patients wait outside. What are you doing just standing there?"

"Some patients have no self-awareness. You're too nice, Sadie. If it were me, I would have kicked her out ages ago."

Although Jim and I had been together for eight years, I had always believed in giving each other space and rarely visited him at the hospital. So, while many people had heard he was married, few had actually met me.

But I recognized this doctor. Her name was Brenda, and she had a reputation for being the hospital shrewterrible skills, terrible temper, and a classic bully. It was surprising that Sadie, after only a few days, had already fallen in with her.

Before I could say anything, Brenda had already opened the door and ushered me out, closing it gently behind her.

Through the thin door, I heard Sadie's cheerful voice pick up the conversation. "Don't be ridiculous. Whether I get to stay or not depends on my own abilities. You can't get a foothold at Seabrook General with connections alone."

Brenda's tone was knowing. "Other connections might not work, but your guy is the top scalpel here. Who would dare cross him? You're too naive, burying your head in books all day! I heard you're already carrying his child. Instead of studying, you should just force his hand!"

She practically shouted the last few words, as if afraid Sadie wouldn't hear.

"No, the father isn't him..." Sadie demurred.

Brenda cackled. "Oh, I heard all about it! Dr. Evans's car was in the parking garage the other day... making quite a commotion!"

"He only sees me as a sister!" Sadie explained weakly.

"No blood relation, what kind of sister is that? A 'special' sister? Didn't he give you his downtown studio apartment to live in? Don't think I don't know."

No wonder Jim, who never cared about such things, had suddenly taken his car for a full detailing a few days ago. He'd been using it as a love nest. And he'd lied to me, saying he'd rented the apartment to a young couple, recent graduates.

"They just moved to the city, don't have much money. I told them they could delay their first rent payment."

I'd been surprised at the time. Jim was usually so frugal. I never thought he could be so understanding. It turned out Sadie was the one living there.

But that was the apartment I bought with the bonus from my first big project! And I was still the one paying the mortgage!

After a bit more chatter, Brenda came out, probably to see if Jim was back. She was annoyed to see me still standing there.

"Why are you eavesdropping on our private conversation?"

I couldn't help but sneer. "Calling her 'Dr. Sadie' already? She doesn't even have her medical license yet. And besides, you should probably lower your voices. It's not like you were discussing anything honorable, were you?"

Sadie emerged, her face a mask of wounded innocence. "Rhiannon, you didn't take that seriously, did you? We were just joking around. Jim and I are close, but we've never crossed any lines. I know you're very accomplished, but I'm not so bad myself. I will pass my medical boards, and I hope in the future you won't speak to me with such a dismissive tone."

I was about to marvel at her Oscar-worthy performance and her bafflingly complex personalityflipping between manic, proud, vicious, and victimized in the blink of an eye. Youd think she was suffering from some strange ailment.

But in the next moment, a familiar, angry voice sounded from behind me.

"Rhiannon, what are you doing now?"

"She doesn't have an office, so I told her she could rest and study in here. Is that something to be angry about?"

"Come on, she's just a kid. You don't have to be like this."

My mouth moved, but no sound came out. It didn't matter. When it came to Sadie, Jim always had the same excuses.

She would text and call him in the middle of the night, claiming she needed help with a question. It was obvious what she was really after. One night, we were in the middle of being intimate when her call came through. Jim rolled off me, got out of bed, and went to look up some information for her. Humiliated and furious, I yelled at him. "She's not even your real sister! Even if she were, this is completely out of line!"

Jim just soothed me with his usual line. "She's just a kid. What's there to be angry about? We can do this anytime. She's studying for her boards. That's a big deal."

Seeing me silent for a long moment, Jim must have thought his authoritative tone had worked. He softened his voice.

"Okay, don't be upset. When I get my vacation time, I'll take you on that cruise you've always wanted to go on."

Sadie chimed in with a saccharine-sour voice, "Jim, you're so busy and you still have to take care of your wife. You're such a good man. Rhiannon, you're amazing, but it's not easy to find a man who truly loves you. You should learn to cherish him."

I used to think that if my marriage ever fell apart, I'd have a clichd breakdown, sobbing and demanding to know how Jim could forget his promises.

But at this moment, my voice was unnervingly calm.

"I'm not upset. And you don't have to wait for your vacation. I can go on a cruise by myself."

"Let's get a divorce, Jim."