“Matthew…” I stammered, my voice shaky with shock.
N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.
“Rea,” he said, giving me a strained smile.
“Your hair…” I reached out, instinctively wanting to touch it.
He frowned, confused. “What about my hair? Is it messy?”
Suddenly, tears started streaming down my face.
vare
Seeing me cry, he looked even more confused. “What’s going on? Why are you crying? Did Lindey
say something to upset you? Don’t listen to her, you know how she is.”
It hit me he hadn’t even noticed that his hair had turned almostpletely gray.
Just a few days ago, his hair was still ck. But now? It wasn’t totally gray, but at least eighty
percent of it had gone silver.
He looked like apletely different person, like he’d aged decades in just a few days. From a
strong, middle–aged man to someone who seemed… fragile.
I couldn’t find the words. Especially since he had no idea what had happened to him.
Instead, I stepped forward and hugged him tightly, the tears flowing freely now.
He patted my back gently. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m fine. I just needed some time alone. Lindey’s
been nagging at me nonstop, and now she’s pulled you into this mess.
He thought I was crying because I was worried about him locking himself away for a whole day and
night.
I shook my head against his shoulder, my throat tight like I couldn’t breathe.
“Come on, sit down for a bit. I’ll make us some tea,” Matthew said, his voice steady, like nothing
was wrong.
But I could see through it. He was just putting up a front, trying to keep me from worrying. The gray
in his hair said it all.
“Matthew, let Jace do what he wants. Don’t let this tear you apart. Please, don’t let it get to you.”
I’d never felt this much sympathy for someone before. Seeing Matthew like this broke my heart in a
way I couldn’t even exin, like he was my own father.
His eyes darkened. “He’s let me down too many times, Rea. And I’ve had time to think–it’s because
we spoiled him. We let him get away with too much.”
“That’s not on you. Jace is grown now. His choices are his own, and he’s gotta live with the
consequences,
I said, trying tofort him.
Matthew didn’t respond. I could tell my words hadn’t hit home. He was as stubborn as theye.
No matter how calm or easygoing he usually seemed–whether Lindey was nagging or people were
criticizing him–deep down, his convictions were rock solid.
I never imagined Jace’s choice of a girlfriend or wife would hit him this hard. Enough to turn his hair
gray
practically overnight.
“Come on, sit with me. Let’s have some tea,” Matthew said, guiding me to sit by the tea table before
he went to fetch the tea leaves.
As I watched him walk away, something about his posture struck me. His back looked a little
hunched, like the weight of everything had finally caught up to him. With his gray hair, he suddenly
seemed… old.
“I’ll make you that ck tea you brought over a while ago. I’ve been saving it for…” His voice trailed
off.
His hand, reaching for the tea cab, froze. He just stood there, staring at the ss door.
Something wasn’t right. I rushed over. “Matthew…
That’s when I saw it too.
In the ss reflection, Matthew had finally noticed his gray hair.
“Matthew,” I whispered, gently grabbing his arm.
He blinked and let out a bitter smile. “So that’s why you were crying earlier, huh?”
That smile–it was empty, full of this quiet resignation that tore me up inside.
“You’ve… you’ve…” I tried to say something, but the words caught in my throat.
“I’m over fifty now. Gray hair’s bound to happen. Guess now Lindey won’t have to worry about some
younger woman catching my eye, right? I’ve officially turned into an old man. Who’d be interested in
me now?” Matthew joked, forcing a chuckle.
But I couldn’tugh. I pressed my face into his shoulder, quietly sobbing.
Matthew’s hand gently stroked my hair. “Alright, alright, don’t cry. We all get old eventually.”