I'm married to the most beautiful woman in town. At least, that's how I feel about my wife, Patricia. She has everything I've ever wanted in a partner. She is perfect just the way she is.

Just the way she is.

The way she smiles is the most gorgeous smile I've ever seen.

The way she cooks for me---every meal she prepares is always delicious.

The way she laughs---it's soothing.

The way she greets me every morning---every day, I just love her so much, and no one can change that. My mom didn't like her. In fact, she still doesn't. But I love Patricia very much; I want to be with her, and so does she.

We're a happy couple. I can't tell you how happy I am that she said yes. It was the happiest day of my life. I couldn't imagine anything better than that.

And to top off all the joy I feel with her, we have a son! He looks exactly like his mother---his eyes, his lips, even his smile. Such a wonderful life I have.

The happy family I've always wanted-I couldn't be any happier. This is the best thing I could have ever asked for.

Though, there is one thing you need to know about Patricia: she's mute. She can hear me without any problem, but she can't speak. The only sound she can produce is her soothing laugh.

But I love her either way.

I know I might sound obsessed, but I'm not. It's just that I have everything I've ever wanted, and it's all going so well. As you can tell, this is a story about me and my family.

My name is Jacob, a 24-year-old man who lives in a small town. I work as a manager at a large company owned by a friend. My life wasn't that bad, but I was utterly single.

My friends were married, and I was the only one left alone without a partner. It was embarrassing for an adult who craved love as much as I did. People knew me as a loving man, but I didn't even have a lover. It was a shame, and I felt lonely.

Mom and Dad tried to set me up with girls they knew, but none of them caught my eye. They were either spoiled or too timid for my liking. It was infuriating, though I knew they were just trying to help.

That was until I had enough and decided to refuse their help for good. I was going to the grocery store while my parents were planning a date for me with Angelica, a successful woman they met several years ago.

Of course, I wasn't interested. So, I went to the grocery store even though I had nothing to buy. That was when I met Patricia.

Her long, brunette hair mesmerized me. Her smile was so pretty, even though she seemed to fake it. I approached her, asking what happened, but she didn't respond. Patricia started to move her hands, signaling with sign language.

I realized she was mute right away, but I didn't understand what she was saying. Patricia must have sensed that I didn't know sign language, so she grabbed her phone and typed something on it.

"Can you show me where the fruit stall is?"

It was the sound of an Android text-to-speech. It was a pity I couldn't hear her voice, but I was grateful to have met her, even though our conversation relied on hand motions.

I walked her to the fruit stall. She looked happy, thanked me through her gadget, and picked out some fruit. I didn't want to leave; I was afraid she might need more help. But that day, I assumed Patricia found it a bit creepy for a stranger like me to stand and stare.

She asked if I needed something from her.

"Oh, no," I said. "I just thought I could give you a hand."

Patricia went silent. She smiled and typed again. "Thanks, but I'll be fine."

Part of me didn't want to leave her. She was one in a million; I couldn't just let this chance slip by. We didn't know each other, and I knew nothing about her, yet my heart was hooked.

To my surprise, I met her again at the park. We smiled at each other, spent some time together, and exchanged numbers. I couldn't be happier; I had found my soulmate.

I was sure she was my soulmate. And I still am.

***

"Patricia?" I knocked and opened the door, only to find Patricia looking out the window. The food I brought for her was getting cold. She didn't respond when I called her for dinner.

My wife, Patricia, had become distant. I still loved her, despite everything. She always sat on our bed and stared out the window, as if she wanted to go outside. I had suggested a vacation---just me, her, and our son, Henry.

But she never responded. I was always worried I had done something wrong. We had been fine for years.

"Patricia, honey." I sat on the edge of the bed. She didn't even look at me, always staring out the window. Did she regret marrying me?

My tears were just about to flow. "Honey, if I've done something wrong, I'm so sorry. I know apologizing when I don't even know my mistake is bad, but please, talk to me."

She didn't respond. It ached my heart; she had never ignored me, not even after we had a son. What happened?

"Darling?"

"My love?"

"Sweetheart?"

"Or perhaps you don't like pet names? Patricia."

She still didn't respond. I couldn't handle it; I cried next to her. It was embarrassing to cry in front of my wife, but I had nothing to hide from her. She always knew my true nature, and so did I.

The door behind us creaked open. I turned around to find our son standing there with a blank stare. Within seconds, Henry started crying. He approached me and dragged me out of the room.

I was furious. "Henry, what is wrong with you?"

"No!" He yelled. "What is wrong with you?"

"I was just trying to make your mother talk to me again. Don't you know how frustrating it is when your beloved one doesn't want to talk to you?"

Henry looked outraged. He pulled his hair and punched my right arm. "You can't do that to her! Let her be, Dad. Let her be!"

"HOW can I let her be if I don't know what's wrong with her?"

"YOU don't know?" Henry smirked. "You don't know?"

"I DON'T!"

"DAD!"

"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I DID WRONG, HENRY!"

"THE ONLY THING YOU DID WRONG WAS BRINGING MOM BACK."

I was shocked; my whole world was shaken. "How can you say that? She's your mom."

Henry stepped back. "I love Mom, Dad. I do. That's why I want you to let her rest."

"But---"

"SHE is DEAD."

I couldn't hold back my tears. His words filled me with profound sadness. My whole body trembled as I clenched my fists to stifle the scream rising in my throat.

Henry patted my shoulder. Even though I couldn't see him, I knew he was crying too.

"I know," I said. "I know that she's gone."

"Let her rest, Dad. Bring Mom's body to her grave and lay her to rest properly, okay?"

I knew she was gone. I just didn't want to believe it.

***

1.260 words.

help.