Flames

In the roaring inferno, Claire, heedless of the danger, dove back into the flames, grabbing my hand, pulling me with all her might.

"Your wife sure loves you," the doctor said with a touch of envy.

If only he knew.

Just moments before, Claire was on the phone with her childhood sweetheart, Liam, who was battling leukemia. Her voice was as soft as could be.

"Don't you ever do something that reckless again! He's dead now, who's gonna give you a bone marrow transplant?"

"That guy was just some nobody, his life ain't worth much, but you, you're different."

1.

My phone lit up, revealing the coldest message from my wife.

[Going to the hospital to see Liam. No drinking for you lately, get ready for the third surgery.]

Liam, her childhood friend, was her first love, battling leukemia.

And I, in everyone's eyes, was the opportunistic nobody who married into money.

An old high school buddy, Mark, contacted me out of the blue.

[Party tonight, 6pm, got a booth at O’Malley’s. Don’t go forgetting your old crew now that you’re living the high life! Be there, bro!]

It was the first time since the wedding I'd been invited to a high school reunion.

Mark kept asking if I'd married Claire, the famous pianist. Once confirmed, he enthusiastically insisted I come.

A few drinks in, someone got bold.

"Dude, let's be real, who's got it better than Ethan, huh? A poor kid in high school, then he marries a freakin’ heiress! Jumps right up the ladder!"

"I just don’t get it, Ethan, what did Claire, like, see in you? Her performance fee is probably more than you’ll make in your lifetime! How’d you manage to pull this off?"

"Yeah, how did you get her to chase you? No dowry, she sets you up with a house and car! Come on man, spill the beans! This guy sold himself, and bam! Skyrocketed!"

The laughter echoed around me, growing louder.

Mark patted me on the back.

"Hey, don’t take it personal, man! We're just messing around, you know, having a good time!"

I forced a smile, shaking my head.

My hand tightened around my glass as I threw back the bitterness that rose up.

They weren’t wrong.

Ethan never deserved Claire.

My empty glass was refilled. Around me, the noise swelled. Staring into the shimmering liquid, I could almost see myself three years ago, struggling and broke.

Twenty-one-year-old Ethan had nothing. Twenty-one-year-old Claire was already a nationally known piano prodigy.

Back then, I never imagined she’d ever look at me, let alone like me.

Even our first meeting screamed inequality.

The summer BBQ joint was packed, the heat was sweltering.

I moved between tables, my clothes smelling of smoke and grease.

My living money came from the endless orders, the mountain of dirty plates and utensils I had to wash at the end of the night.

Claire was different. She wore a dress I’d never seen before, sitting quietly at a low outdoor table, watching me.

Just her presence turned heads.

After dealing with a difficult customer, I recognized the famous mu...