Chapter 3 Rejections

Emelia stirred from a restless sleep, her eyes heavy and her heart heavier. Today was another day she had to face the spa, another day of waiting for customers who never came. The walls felt like they were closing in, the silence deafening.

In the kitchen, she stared at the near-empty pantry. There was little to work with - just a loaf of stale bread and a jar of jam scraped nearly clean. Emelia took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. This was all she could offer Marcus for breakfast.

She laid the sparse meal on the table, a single slice of bread with a smear of jam on each plate. When Marcus walked in, his face twisted in confusion, his eyes dropping to the meager offering.

"What's this?" he asked, his tone laced with frustration. "What kind of meal is this?"

Emelia flinched, his words cutting deeper than he knew. For a moment, she was frozen, staring down at her plate. Then something inside her snapped. It had been building for days, weeks - the fear, the worry, the endless nights of tossing and turning. And now, she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"What do you mean, Marcus?" she shot back, her voice quivering with emotion. "Do you think I don't feel the pain you're going through? Do you think it's easy for me to watch you like this, every day, sinking deeper and deeper? You act like it's my fault things aren't going well for us. Like I'm the reason you keep getting rejected!"

Her chest heaved, the tears finally breaking free, spilling down her cheeks as she let out all the frustration she'd been swallowing. Marcus stared at her, his eyes wide, taken aback by her outburst. For a long moment, neither of them said a word.

Then, Marcus's expression softened. The anger melted away, replaced by guilt and regret. He stepped forward, his shoulders slumping as he reached for her. "Emelia," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to - I just... I don't know how to deal with this."

Emelia sobbed as Marcus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He kissed her temple, his lips lingering against her skin as he whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Emelia sniffed, leaning into his embrace. "I'm sorry too," she murmured, her voice thick with tears. "We're in this together, Marcus. We'll figure it out. We have to."

Marcus pulled back, his hands resting on her cheeks as he wiped away her tears with the pads of his thumbs. "Thank you," he said, his eyes glistening. "For staying. For not giving up on me."

Emelia forced a smile. "You're my husband," she said simply. "I'd never give up on you."

They lingered in each other's arms for a moment longer before Marcus pulled away, taking a deep breath. "I have another interview today," he said, his voice heavy. "Maybe... maybe this one will be it."

Emelia nodded, trying to summon hope for him. "You'll do great," she said, forcing another smile. "You always do."

Marcus gave a tight nod and grabbed his coat. He leaned down to kiss Emelia again before stepping out into the street. Emelia watched him go, the ache in her chest expanding. She knew he was trying, but she also knew that with each failed interview, a part of Marcus withered away.

After he was gone, Emelia cleaned up the table, the remnants of their meager breakfast now a haunting reminder of how far they'd fallen. She grabbed her coat and headed out to the spa, her mind clouded with worry.

On her way, she passed a job vacancy poster plastered to a lamppost. The bold letters caught her eye - 'Now Hiring.' For a moment, she paused, her eyes scanning the details. But then she shook her head, forcing herself to keep walking. Marcus would get the job today. He had to. There was no other option.

Hours dragged by at the spa. Emelia kept glancing at the door, hoping a customer might walk in, but the door remained stubbornly closed. As the day stretched on, her anxiety grew. What if Marcus didn't get the job? What if he came home with that same haunted, defeated look in his eyes?

By late afternoon, Emelia received a notification. A client had booked a session - a small but welcome surprise. It wasn't much, but it was something. When the session ended, Emelia cleaned up the spa, her hands moving mechanically. Her mind was already on Marcus, wondering how his interview had gone.

When she finally stepped out into the evening air, she spotted Marcus across the street. His shoulders were slumped, his head bowed as he trudged toward her. Emelia's heart clenched.

She crossed the street quickly, her steps hurried. When she reached him, Marcus didn't say a word. He just stared at the ground, his jaw clenched, eyes glassy.

Emelia pulled him into a hug, her arms wrapping around his waist as she rested her head against his chest. "Don't say a word," she whispered. "Let's just... let's just breathe."

Marcus swallowed, his arms coming around her, holding her tightly. They stood there for a long moment, wrapped up in each other, both of them seeking comfort in the silence.

Later, Emelia suggested they take a walk, to clear their minds and forget about everything for just a little while. They wandered through the park, the night air cool against their skin. Emelia tried to keep the conversation light, pointing out the twinkling city lights and the couples strolling hand in hand.

But her mind kept drifting back to that job poster she'd seen earlier. The words 'Now Hiring' flashed in her mind like a beacon. It was a slim chance, but maybe it was worth checking out. Maybe it was the lifeline they needed.

But as she looked over at Marcus, his face pinched with exhaustion, she decided to keep it to herself for now. He'd been through enough for one day. The last thing he needed was another reminder of how desperate they were.