36

36
Camille

I had declined dinner hours ago, with no appetite or energy even to sit on the bed.
Spending the entire day in bed had left me restless, and hunger started to take over. I decided to head to the kitchen, searching for something I could eat without upsetting my stomach further. The hallways were completely empty and immersed in silence, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. It was comforting to feel the cold marble beneath my feet as I walked.
When I reached the kitchen, I went straight to the fridge. Faced with so many tempting options, I became indecisive. I didn’t want to risk choosing something that could irritate my stomach. I ended up picking a savory pie that was on the table, simple and seemingly harmless.
I cut a small piece, then another, and before I knew it, I was already on my fourth piece.
That’s when I heard a distant noise. First, a muffled sound of stumbling, followed by the noise of something falling. I frowned, leaving the fork on the plate, and followed the sound. Upon reaching the hall, I came face to face with Javier.
He was visibly drunk, staggering with his jacket awkwardly thrown over his shoulders and his eyes shining with alcohol.
“There you are! My wife!” he exclaimed, smiling widely when he saw me, arms open as if he wanted to embrace me.
I stopped in the middle of the hallway, hesitant.
“Are you... drunk?” I asked, crossing my arms.
He opened his arms even wider, pretending exaggerated surprise.
“Do I look drunk to you?”
I nodded slowly, observing his unsteady stance.
“Well, I’m not! Wanna see?” Before I could respond, he tried to prove his point by walking in a straight line. He barely took two steps before tripping and falling flat on his face.
“My God, Javier!” I rushed over to him, kneeling down to help him get up.
He muttered something incomprehensible, grabbing my arm for support.
“I tripped,” he murmured, with a tone almost childlike, as if justifying his fall.
“Of course, you did,” I retorted, trying to stay calm while helping him to his feet. Supporting most of his weight on me, we started to walk toward the stairs. The strong smell of alcohol was unmistakable, and he kept murmuring disconnected phrases.
“Did you know?” he suddenly asked, stopping on the first step and looking at me with an expression that seemed serious but had the awkward gleam of drunkenness.
“Know what, Javier?” I asked, not hiding my exhaustion.
“That you’re perfect,” he declared, letting out a muffled laugh and staggering once more, almost knocking us both over.
“I knew that,” I answered, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow. “But it’s nice to hear it again. I think you’ll regret saying that tomorrow,” I murmured, trying to hide the embarrassment and focus on getting him to the bedroom.
He tried to point at me, but his finger made a crooked path in the air.
“No, you don’t understand! It’s serious! You should be a... a painting... one of those in museums!”
“A Mona Lisa, perhaps?” I teased, trying to stifle a laugh as he started moving away from the stairs toward the living room.
“No!” He shook his head vigorously, stumbling.
“The Mona Lisa can’t hold a candle to you! She doesn’t even smile properly! You have... you have a smile that... that lights up everything!” He spread his arms wide, almost knocking over the lamp.
“Be careful, Javier!” I exclaimed, catching the lamp before it fell. “What have you been drinking?”
“Everything!” He laughed loudly, tilting his head back. “Everything my men brought! It was a party! Know why?” He leaned in toward me, winking as if about to share a secret.
“Why?” I asked, playing along.
“Because I’m the luckiest guy in the world!” He pointed at me again, this time with a bit more accuracy. “You’re here... And now... everything is in its right place.”
“Oh, really?” I crossed my arms, trying to look serious, but his expression was too comical. “And what are you going to do about it?”
He paused for a few seconds, swaying slightly as if he were on the deck of a ship.
“I’m going to be the best husband in the world!” he declared pompously. “I’ll teach our future baby to walk... to talk... to fight...”
The alcohol was definitely making him delirious.
“Fight?” I interrupted, laughing.
“Of course!” He tried to make a boxing gesture but almost fell again. “Self-defense! Nothing too... violent. Just the basics.”
“Oh, sure. Because a baby needs self-defense immediately.”
“Exactly!” He slapped his chest proudly. “You get it!”
I shook my head, trying to hide my smile.
“I think you’ve had enough fun for one night, Javier. Let’s get some sleep before you hurt yourself.”
He made an offended expression, placing his hand on his heart. “Hurt? Me? Never! I’m... indestructible!”
“Indestructible, huh?” I grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him. “Let’s see how you handle this, then.”
The pillow hit him lightly in the chest, and he looked at it as if it were a deadly weapon.
“Oh, you want war, huh?” He grabbed another pillow, and with a mischievous grin, threw it back at me, missing completely.
“Good aim, indestructible.” I grabbed the pillow and threw it back, this time hitting him in the head.
He laughed so loudly he almost fell again, but finally threw his hands up.
“I surrender! You’re the boss here.”
“Finally, something sensible from you today,” I walked over to him, helping him walk. “Now, come on, Javier. Tomorrow you’re going to need a lot of water and coffee.”
“Only if you’re there,” he murmured, already closing his eyes.
Once in the bedroom, I finally managed to get him seated on the bed. Javier fell backward, his arms spread out and his gaze fixed on the ceiling, as if the world was spinning around him. I sighed, taking off his shoes and jacket while he continued to mumble nonsensical things.
“You know... I’d do anything for you. ALWAYS,” he murmured, and before I could ask what he meant, he closed his eyes.
I stood still for a few moments, watching him. Despite his deplorable state, there was something vulnerable in his expression. Something that made me wonder if the man I knew as strong, relentless, was more human than he let on.
I covered him with a blanket and sat in the armchair beside him, letting the silence fill the space once more. Maybe he was right. Maybe there was something in him that I still didn’t fully understand. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, it scared me.