Nephthys's POV
"What happened to you my lovely queen?"
"Nothing. I'm doing great."
She's showing me that fake smile again. The one she was taught. I don't want to see a fake smile. Why is she doing this to me? Torturing me like this. I've seen her smiling brightly to a slave and a whore. Why is she showing fake smile to her own husband? What have I done to deserve this?
"You are certainly not doing good. Looks like you're about to cry."
"I'm not. Absolutely not." She starts drinking to avoid more questions.
Hours later...
It pains me to see her in this state. Now that she's drunk her true emotions are showing.
"Stop now. You have had enough liquor."
"I can't...*sob*"
"Tell me what's wrong."
"You will never understand."
"Alright. Let's go to bed. We will talk about this later. You need rest."
I put her to bed and she starts crying again.
"She *sob" always wanted to hug me *sob* when...when we slept together *sob* she said *sob* I remind her of her mother."
"She's gone now. Ok?"
"Gone? *sob* Who will I hug then?"
"Me. You will hug me. Like you used to do when I was a child."
"I did?"
"Yes. Every night. You can do it again. I will sleep here from now on."
"You will? *sob* You will not leave like Umena. Right?"
"I will never leave."
"Liar!!"
"I'm not lying. Look at me. Look here. I have your name carved on my chest. I'm yours. Only yours."
She touches my chest.
"H...how did you get this? It's horrible. I did this?"
"No. We both did this. You and me. You have my name on your body too."
I rip off her gown and show her. Her eyes stare at the burned mark with disbelief.
"When did I get this?"
"You had it the night I left."
"Left? Why did you leave?"
"You don't remember?"
"No. Did you leave because you hate me?"
"That's not true. I'm your husband. I'd never hate you."
"Husband?"
"Yes. Your husband Nephthys."
"But my Nephthys is a child. You don't look like Nephthys."
She had too much liquor.
"I grew up fast. But I'm still your Nephthys. I'm still a child inside. I want you to hug me when I sleep like you did before. ok?"
"Then what about Umena?"
"No there's no one called Umena. There's only me. You will hug me to sleep every night because... because I'm lonely."
"Aww.. you're lonely?"
"Very lonely. I have no one besides you."
"Come here in my arms."
Even if she's drunk, even if she will hate me again tomorrow morning, I'm still happy. It's been so long she hugged me with care. I've missed this warmth so much. I shouldn't have let the power take over my heart. How many cold sleepless nights I've spent because of it?