It was a wet day.

The wind howled ferociously like a mad beast as it harassed several unsuspecting windows, leaves, and slightly ajar doors which served as obstacles in its path. Thunder and lightening, the fearsome duo, replaced the brilliant warm sun and caused several kindergarten children to cry out in fear.

Worst of all was the ear-shattering sound of rain as it incessantly flogged roofs, sheds, cars, and poor pedestrians who had been forced to leave the shelter of their homes due to urgent business.

Even the term 'it rained cats and dogs' would have been insufficient a phrase to describe the violent melancholy showers that disrupted the peace and order of a perfect summer afternoon.

As seconds bled into minutes, the rain slowly began to abate. However, the dark cloud refused to dissipate even though the rain had started long before daybreak.

Federico, a middle-aged man still in the prime of his youth, sat comfortably in his warm car, watching his breath fog the windows of his car and the rain droplets gather and slide down his windshield.

Though the streets were slightly flooded and the roads a bit slippery, several cars zoomed past him as their occupants hastened towards the safe shelters of their homes.

Federico sighed, burdened by the sorrow that there would be no one waiting for him in his abode. He brought out his phone from the cup holder and stared sadly at the image on the screen.

Though two people smiled back at him, a man and a woman, his eyes were glued to the woman's face. Even without the filter and makeup, it was obvious the woman was extraordinary.

One corner of her full lips was lifted in a sarcastic smirk. The expression in her eyes was a bit difficult to decipher. It looked like she was hiding a dangerous secret.

"Oh, Lorena." Federico kissed the woman's image.

Most men at that age would have begun to overlook the many qualities that had once drawn them to their wives and begin to seek solace in younger women with fleshier breasts and more succulent buttocks but not Federico.

He unlocked his phone and replayed the last message she had sent to him.

"Paris is a wonderful city. If only I could be here for pleasure rather than business. I hope you aren't torturing yourself like you always do when I leave. I'll be back tomorrow darling. Don't wear that hideous grey shirt when you come to pick me up. Make sure you eat well tonight, ok? I love you, honey."

Short, sweet, sexy, and intimate. Her melodic voice soothed his soul but was barely enough to dull the ache he felt in his heart knowing she was miles away.

He'd replayed her message so many times, he could recite the words she'd said. How he longed to warm his arms around her! He wished he could kiss her and tell her how much he adored her.

Lorena had only been gone for two days but it already felt like eternity.

"I love you more," Federico whispered.

He dialed her number and was about to call when he remembered he'd promised her he wouldn't pester her so much. It was so hard.

"She'll be back tomorrow. Lorena will be back in my arms." He said to himself.

It was the only way he could lessen the pain in his chest. Before he could succumb to temptation and dial her number, he returned the phone to the cup holder. Just as he was about to start his ignition, the device vibrated.

He dived for the phone, hoping it would be his beloved. He was startled when he saw the name on the caller ID. He picked it up without thinking twice.

"Mimi? What a pleasant surprise." He wished the call had been from Lorena rather than his childhood friend and one-time lover.

"Freddie? Can you come over? Please? I need you." Mimi's voice was shaky. He knew at once that she'd been crying.

"What's wrong? Are you ill? Are you hurt?" Federico sat up in alarm.

"I...please. I don't...I don't have anybody else. Please come." Mimi sobbed.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Sit tight, ok?" He said before hanging up.

As he drove down the familiar path to Mimi's house, he knew Lorena wouldn't be pleased he was staying out late. She would have been even more upset that he was visiting Mimi.

Although petty emotions like jealousy were beneath her, Lorena wouldn't have been pleased he was visiting a woman that late.

Federico would have preferred going to their house where the shadow of Lorena's presence in their abode was distinct and powerful. The only reason he couldn't do that was because he'd heard the desperate desire in Mimi's voice.

When he got to Mimi's luxury home, he rang her doorbell with a batted breath. A few seconds later, she was ushering him in looking like an image of misery.

"Thanks for coming." Mimi smiled weakly. She had never been a woman of great beauty. With a weak chin, small puffy eyes, and thick, ugly lips she looked like a child's caricature. Unfortunately, grief was a terrible look on her. She looked worse than she usually did.

She swayed on her feet like she was drunk. Her skin was so pale.

Federico held on to her, afraid she would faint. He looked around her home, expecting someone else to come out. When no one did, he cleared his throat.

"Where's your husband?" He asked.

Mimi began to sob violently on his chest. He locked the door behind them and they sat together on the couch. Rubbing her back gently, he waited for her to explain the cause of her misery.

"He left me. I finalized the divorce today. He left me." Mimi sobbed.

Federico felt a pang of pity for her. He wasn't amazed to hear the news as he had often heard of her husband's escapades with younger women.

"Would you like anything to drink? Water, perhaps?" Federico asked kindly.

"I only want wine." She rubbed her swollen, red eyes.

Federico swallowed the urge to tell her drinking wouldn't solve her problems but only add to it. The sadness in her eyes silenced his sermon. He brought two glasses from her kitchen and her bottle of white wine.

Although he poured himself a drink, he didn't plan to join her. He still had to drive home after all. He took one sip and finished the entire glass without thinking.

"Oh, Freddie! What on earth am I going to do with my life now? He was the centre of my universe and now he's gone." Mimi wept bitterly. She finished the first drink and poured herself another.

"I'm sorry, Mimi. I'm sure you'll move on and meet someone better." Federico said gently.

"I don't want anyone else. I only want him. Always have and always will. Why wasn't I good enough? I did everything I could to make him love me. Why did he still want those other women?" Mimi held on to him and continued sobbing.

"He doesn't deserve you. You'll find someone who'll treat you better." Federico rubbed her back.

"Who? Who will love a woman who looks like me?" Mimi wept.

"Don't say that. You'll get over this. I know you will." Federico promised.

Mimi clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her sane. He inhaled the sweet fragrance of her baby soft skin.

"You're the only one who's ever been nice to me, you know. You're the only one who was ever kind to me. That's why I called you." Mimi looked up at him.

"We're friends, Mimi. I'll help you as much as I can. We'll get through this." Federico said.

Mimi watched him drain the contents of his glass and poured another for him.

"Drink with me. Like old times." She begged.

"I really shouldn't."

"Please. I'm scared. I don't want to be alone." Mimi begged.

He obliged. After two hours of petting and hugging, Federico stood up uncertainly. He'd ended up drinking more than he bargained.

"I need to get going." He said, staggering slightly.

Mimi held on to his shirt. She pulled him closer to her.

"Stay with me. You are too drunk to drive." She begged. Her breath reeked of alcohol.

Her intoxicated pupils were filled with need and desire.

"No. I need to go. I can take a taxi and return for my car tomorrow. Lorena won't like it if I stay out late. I have to pick her up tomorrow." Federico insisted.

"Ok. Thank you for coming." Mimi sighed sadly. She tried to place her lips on his sunken cheeks but he turned his face at the same time and their lips brushed.

The kiss was so light and strange. He couldn't remember the last time he'd touched lips that didn't belong to his wife.

Federico jerked and was about to apologize when she kissed him again. Only this time, it was filled with the desire to want and be wanted.

Federico was so stunned that he didn't push her away like he should have. Mimi broke the desperate kiss after a few seconds.

"Make love to me, Freddie. It doesn't have to mean anything. Please." She held his face in her fat hands. Federico had to shake his head. He was feeling dizzy.

"I'm married, Mimi." He slurred on his words.

"I know but it's just for tonight. It doesn't have to mean anything. Please make love to me." Mimi loosened her robes and revealed her half-naked body to him.

The fog in his head intensified. His eyes raked over her body, appraising every curve. Without thinking, he pushed off the robes from her shoulders. His fingers carefully grazed every curve and every dent.

He ran his hands through her hair and violently nibbled on her neck. He listened to Mimi sigh and fidget. A part of his brain nagged him, warned him of the dangers of the path he was threading.

He was so drunk that he barely heard the warning. He couldn't think of anything else other than that he wanted to taste Mimi's soft lips.

Mimi held on to him as he kissed her alcohol flavoured lips. She ripped his shirt off his body and tugged on his trousers. By then, he was so far gone.

He laid her on the couch after knocking the table down and pinned down her hands so that she would not touch him. He didn't want her to touch him.

He listened to her sigh and beg. He heard her silent cries. He felt her tighten her legs around him.

His mind was muffled with alcohol. He couldn't think straight.

"Lorena." he moaned loudly at the end.

They both passed out after that.

It was daybreak when Federico woke up with a throbbing headache. He had neck cramps from sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

There was a warm body beside him.

He turned, expecting to see Lorena's face but he saw Mimi, naked and exposed. She was still fast asleep.

Memories of the previous night came rushing back into his head.

How could he have made such a mistake?

How could he have touched another woman?

He dressed quickly and left.

He didn't understand what he had just done but he knew one thing.

Lorena could never find out about it.

#MenteMelan💀🖤