Three knocks were suddenly heard after hours of silence both outside and inside of the shop. Jane walked towards the door and opened it,

“Good evening, darling,” Lucas greeted.

“Good evening,” Jane replied with a little smile.

Her husband entered the shop and took off his jacket, Jane embraced him and pressed her face on his chest covered by a white cotton undershirt.

“What’s for dinner?” he asked.

“I boiled some sweet potatoes for us. And your bath is waiting for you,” she replied.

“Thank you, darling. Let’s eat, I’m starving and exhausted,” then the couple went to the kitchen for their supper.

***

Lucas returned to the kitchen from their privy. He sat back at the table while Jane was cleaning the pot and knife.

“I’ll start working on your dress tomorrow, darling,” Lucas said and yawned.

“Really?” Jane responded.

“Yes, the lady actually commissioned another dress, but I can’t just make my wife wait all the time, right?” Lucas then stood up and embraced his wife from behind. Jane wiped the pot dry and put it back on the shelf.

“Now you’re getting me all excited, darling. I’ll just use the bathroom, okay?”

She set herself free from her husband’s arms and walked to the privy carrying a candle. As she slowly reached and opened the wooden door, her heart started to beat rapidly again. Jane stepped in and hovered the candle over the chamber pot, she closed her eyes upon seeing what she was expecting to see. There was no longer any pain or anxiety, she already knows what she was going to see, and she already knows what she will do. She left the candle on the shelf at the wall inside the privy and returned to the kitchen.

Lucas was sitting back on his chair, facing away from Jane. She walked slowly towards him and touched his shoulder,

“Let’s call it a day, darling,” Jane said. Lucas held her hand,

“Yes, I want to sleep already, darling.”

He rose and walked first towards the stairs. Jane embraced her tightly from behind,

“Oh, darling, what is-“

Lucas’ throat was sliced open, and blood gushed out and poured all over his shirt. He tried to shake Jane off, but she refused to let go, her right hand was still holding the knife. Blood splashed all over the floor and walls as he struggled. Jane press on him even more and the blood was dripping all over arms and started to stain her apron. The couple crashed at the furniture and walls leaving a messy crimson trail on the floor.

On his knees, Lucas was finally too weak to move. He turned grey and leaned on his wife. Jane pressed her face on her husband’s back soaking it with tears, mucus, and saliva.

A few minutes later, her husband’s arms dropped, and she felt no heartbeat. Jane finally released him from her arms and his body dropped on the floor sideways to the right. She put the knife back in to her apron and dragged Lucas into the bathroom where the tub had been filled with warm water. After stripping her husband and herself, she pulled him in to the tub and sat him in front of her. Jane grabbed the knife from her apron and draws a lateral red line on her left wrist. After dropping the knife on the floor, she caressed Lucas’ left cheek with her right hand and smiles as tears fell and dropped on the water.

Lucas brushed his short wet blonde hair and caressed Jane’s face. His new wife leaned on her left arm resting on the rim of the tub,

“What do you find interesting about me?” she asked.

“Well, you’re beautiful, kind, and I know you will be the perfect wife,” Lucas answered with a smile.

“I mean, what do you like about me as me?”

“I just told you, didn’t I?”

“Nevermind,” Jane replied weakly as she stared into the still clear water.