My confession

(Bruce side)

I have left his home. That man, David, is like my elder brother. I am a single child so don't have a blood relation with him but I consider him my brother.

We met a while back. He was 18 and I was 15 when we met. I also met Henry at the same time. Henry was but child back then. We felt a bond between us. Henry started calling us big brothers. David said why not!

And we became brothers. This brotherhood between us is strong. We three are from different parents but we three are brothers.

David has a daughter now. She is 18 and will graduate from high school soon. We were visiting David like normal but midway through, his daughter started eavesdropping on us.

Both I and Henry noticed it but David didn't. More like he couldn't. The situation is a bit complicated so I will leave that for later.

I am riding my bike with Henry behind me. I will drop Henry at his destination. That's how I planned it but I saw my wife.

We were driving down the road where my wife's office is. I had forgotten about the time.

She saw us and stopped. I also stop by the road.

"You going home?"

I ask my wife.

"Yeah. My shift ended. Where are you going?" (Natasha)

"Just dropping him off."

I say that but she is looking at Henry. Ohh…they weren't introduced to each other.

"Natasha, this is Henry Davis. You can say he is my younger brother."

"Hello, I am Henry Davis. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. This brother of mine always brags about you. But I can see why he brags about you." (Henry)

This made Natasha blush a bit. Henry said something unnecessary.

"Get off. I am gonna go home with my wife."

"Yeah, I would not want to disturb the two of you. I'll go home after I buy some things for my girlfriend. See ya!" (Henry)

Saying that he left like a storm. But his girlfriend? Isn't she a ghost? Well, he always had a peculiar taste so I can't judge him.

"Hop on. We're going home."

Natasha sat behind me and hugged me tightly. It's a different sensation. But I plan on confessing to her. About me and my past and my feelings.

I drove home and changed. We both took a shower. Dinner will have to wait.

I am sitting on the sofa. Natasha came out of bath and she is wiping her hair.

"How about you sit here?"

I show her my lap. Well, to be precise, the inside of my lap. She used to get flustered at first. But she sits here without saying anything nowadays. I take her towel and wipe her hair.

"You are being a bit too clingy today. Did something happen?" (Natasha)

She noticed it, huh!

"Well, went to visit my brother. He isn't my real brother but we have known each other for 21 years. We three are sworn brothers."

"That guy from before? You said his name is Henry, right?" (Natasha)

"Yeah. He is the youngest brother. I am the middle and our elder brother is David. We both went to visit him today."

"How much have you kept a secret from me?" (Natasha)

She turned back to look at me and is pouting.

"That's why, I am confessing today."

"About what?" (Natasha)

"Everything. Everything that you should know. You are my wife. You plan on spending the rest of your life with me. So you deserve to know what kind of a man I am."

She is giving me a puzzled look. I know it's confusing. But it is how it is.

"Let's start from the beginning. How I see myself? I am a coward. A weak-hearted cowardly man."

I began speaking.

"Throughout my life, I have believed that I am worthless. When I was younger, I used to say that I won't get married. Never in my life. But then my grandmother from my father's side died. She made me promise that I would marry someone.

I was just nodding my head. Then my father died. I was made to promise the same thing again. Final nail was my mother. I lost all of them in one year and was totally lonely.

That's when I met Henry and David. I was 18 and David was 21. Henry was just 8. We used to frequent the same park. We met each other every day. Started sitting together, talked together and somehow we got along extremely well.

Birds of same feathers flock together. They were just like me. Not orphaned but not better either."

I pause. Natasha is listening to my soliloquy. She isn't asking any questions.

"We all got along well and discussed our family situations. Especially Henry. Why is an 8 year old talking to us grown ups like he is also a grown up? It's his situation. It forced him to grow up. It was 2 months after our first meeting that a peculiarly occurred. Us 3 were suddenly transported."

I stop. Because I need to say something to her.

"From here on, the story might sound like it was made up but it is not. Do know that I do not lie."

I try to tell her that this story is not a lie. She looks at me and gives a smile.

"Our life in another world was different. That world was different. More women than men. The gender balance was destroyed. It was really difficult for us to survive.

And we were like slaves. Because they summoned us, they possessed us. Our ownership was in their hands. It's a relief that they let us three come back.

After our job was done, we were sent back here. But something that was not supposed to happen, did happen."

I pause again. Because, it's about get messy.

"We did not arrive at this world directly. Instead, a goddess transferred us to a different place. There, she cursed us. Why? I don't know. She said that it was funny.

That curse made us who we are today. And thus, I am a coward. My fears have always become true. That curse still binds. Not just me, Henry and David suffer from it as well.

My mental age stopped. I am still that 18 year old kid on the inside. I never grew up mentally. And thus, I lack the flexibility of an adult."

I take another break. Natasha is listening to my story without raising a question. This makes me nervous. But it's better if she decides herself.

If she wants to leave, I will respect her decision and divorce her properly. I will even apologize to her parents. But even after knowing everything about if she decides to stay, that would make me really happy.

"Bruce, why are you suddenly telling me this?" (Natasha)

"Because, if you are going to live the rest of your life with me, you should know about me. I don't want you to regret your decisions."

"I never did. Marrying you was indeed sudden. It was a shotgun wedding but we have spent six years together under the same roof. For better or for worse, we are in this together. Didn't I say it before?" (Natasha)

I remember her saying that again. In front her parents, she said that when we were discussing our divorce.

"No matter what kind of life you led or where have you been to or what did you do, it doesn't matter to me. I will accept you for who you are." (Natasha)

"Are you sure? I am a very cowardly man. So I might just cling onto you and hold you back. Like a captive, you might not be able to leave."

"Don't worry. I am the same. As long as you are looking at me, it doesn't matter. Just don't look at other women when you are with me. I get jealous easily." (Natasha)

Her face is red. She is probably a bit embarrassed saying all that but it really made me happy. I will try to control myself and make a family with her. But we will go and meet David's daughter tomorrow.

"Bruce, I have a proposal." (Natasha)

"A proposal? About what?"

"You know, I never got to date anyone. I never had a boyfriend and I directly got a husband. So how about, we act as each others lovers. Like a girlfriend and boyfriend." (Natasha)

"You mean like those role playing stuff?"

"Yes, exactly. Don't you think others would be surprised as well?" (Natasha)

She is having fun. I guess my wife is a prankster.

"I am okay if you are okay with it. But we have an appointment tomorrow. When are you free?"

"I have the morning shift tomorrow so I am free after 3 tomorrow. What are we doing?" (Natasha)

"We are meeting with David's daughter and Henry. Henry will bring his girlfriend as well."

"Why so sudden? I also want to meet with your friends and family but isn't that a little sudden?" (Natasha)

"I know. I wanted to do it. But that David is up to something. I can't trust him. When I went to his place today, he looked awful. Look..."

I show her a photo of David I took at his place. I told him that I would show it to some of my colleagues and ask if they are interested.

Natasha looks at the photo and looks at me.

"Is that a human being?" (Natasha)

"Ironically, yes. You see, his condition is worsening by the day. And he still hasn't told his daughter about her mother. So I thought, I should do it."

"Is he divorced or did she die?" (Natasha)

"No. She is still alive however it's complicated. So I will explain it all at once."

I finish my story and inform her about tomorrow's meeting. I thought that was over and I was about to fall asleep but my wife had other plans.

She worked me extra hard that night like she was really going at it. Will I even wake up in the morning?