Phil sat down heavily in his colleague Richard's office, his mind tangled in thought as the hum of activity outside continued.
Workers bustled about, meticulously fixing the chaos Elizabeth had left in her wake.
It had been two weeks since her episode in the office, and things were far from improving.
Her memory was deteriorating, her mind failing to recognize even familiar faces. Worse yet, her hallucinations were spiraling out of control.
She was disorganized, her thoughts scattered, a stark contrast to the sharp, capable woman he'd fallen in love with. Seeing her retreat into her happy place was painful, a clear attempt to escape the withdrawal that was swallowing her whole.
Phil sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Did you cheat on her, though?" Richard asked, barely looking up as he flipped through a folder.
Phil scoffed, his tone sharp. "Of course not! For God's sake, she walked into the office and saw my secretary sitting on the other side of the desk, analyzing a document. That's all. Then her hallucinations kicked in."
He groaned, rubbing his temples. "I wasn't expecting her to drop by. Honestly, she's triggered by any female within 300 kilometers of me."
Richard nodded thoughtfully. "And the honeymoon? Do her parents know her current condition?"
Phil nodded, tracing his jaw with his thumb as he leaned back. "They're aware. They're coming to see her tomorrow. I assured them she'd be fit for the honeymoon next week. Her company thinks she's on honeymoon leave already."
Richard popped his knuckles, adjusting his glasses. "Too bad Cindy had to take the brunt of it."
Phil sighed again, his expression darkening. Cindy, the secretary, had been the sacrificial lamb, fired, her salary withheld to cover the damages Elizabeth's parents insisted on paying.
It wasn't fair, but they'd gotten wind of the incident somehow, even though he hadn't told them.
That realization gnawed at him. There was a spy in the company, someone feeding her parents information.
It had to be someone subtle, someone who would go unnoticed.
Phil clenched his jaw, his thoughts simmering with anger. "Lord help that spy when I get my hands on them," he thought darkly.
"Still, it's too dangerous to let your wife get too close to you," Richard said, his tone heavy with concern. "She tried to kill you, Phil."
Phil clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists on his lap. "Yes, I'm aware," he replied tersely. "But it's not her fault. Schizophrenia runs in her family, it's been passed down since her great-grandfather. She was just... unlucky. I'll find a way to cure her. I swear it."
Richard frowned, leaning forward with a look of skepticism etched on his face.
He spoke cautiously, choosing his words as if walking on eggshells. "Phil, distance from her is safer. You're a doctor; you should know better. You're putting yourself in danger every time you're near her."
"I don't mind if she's the danger," Phil shot back, his voice laced with unwavering resolve.
Richard sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "And if she kills you in the process?" he asked, his annoyance evident. "Phil, this isn't some romantic notion. You're gambling with your life for a woman you simply claim to love."
Phil's gaze hardened, a steely determination flickering in his blue eyes. "It's not a gamble, Richard. I will cure her. And if I can't..." He paused, his voice firm and unshakable.
"Then I'll die trying."