The Moon is the Sun

TW: Domestic violence, attempted suicide, sexual violence

This story is inspired by the play "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare

“Marry me?” Lucas’s words tickled my ear as he repeated himself for the fourth time that day. He leaned over me as I sat behind my desk. 

I smiled while he planted a trail of kisses across my blushing cheek, ending at my lips. “Say it again.”

“Marry me, Bri,” he whispered, this time his demand, against my lips. The blank white walls echoed his words around me.

“I love how that sounds.” I wanted more than anything to say yes. He knew it too. But I couldn’t if I wanted my inheritance.

My sister, Kathy, and I never questioned where our father got the money. We just knew he had a lot. When he never came back from a business trip three years ago, we learned of the trust funds he set up for each of us. It’d be enough to easily live out the rest of our lives, but it came with two rules: 1) his daughters get access to their trust funds when they marry and 2) Kathy had to get married first.

We tried to annul the rules, arguing they were sexist and misogynistic, but our father’s lawyer was just as good as ours. The rules stayed as they were. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it weren’t for my sister’s refusal to ever get married. She had never wanted to get married and nothing I did could change her mind. Which meant my dreams of inheriting the trust fund were all but crushed.

The doors of the elevator in front of my desk slid open and my sister walked out.

“Morning Bri!” Kathy said as she walked over and handed me a coffee.

I flashed her back what little smile I could muster. She’s older. She’s smarter. She secured the big flashy job, while I’m the pity hire sitting outside of her office all day “I already got you a coffee.”

“Well now I have two delicious coffees.” She turned her attention to my would-be husband, “Or I have an extra one for Lucas.” She extended a coffee towards him and he accepted.

“I should get going.” Lucas gave me one last kiss on the cheek and headed to the elevator.

She took a seat on the corner of my desk, seemingly unaware of the personal space she was invading. “So, when are you two getting hitched?”

I sighed. “As soon as you do.”

Her eyes rolled back into her head. “Ugh you know you don’t have to follow that rule.”

“If I want the trust I do.”

“As far as I’m concerned, Dad’s money can die with us. You know I can support you. I honestly don’t mind.”

I would never get over the audacity my sister had. She had made enough money on her own to last her 10 lifetimes and never passed up an opportunity to make me look like a charity case.

She popped up from my desk, her heels click on the tile as she headed towards her office. “I need to make a few calls. Can you delay my nine o’clock meeting when he gets here?”

The door shut behind her before I could respond.

A few minutes later, the elevator door opened again and a tall, broad shouldered man stepped out. His brown, luscious hair was perfectly styled and the stubble on his cheeks highlighted the perfect jawline. He wore expensive looking black shoes that matched perfectly with a navy-blue suit that highlighted his bright blue eyes.

He sauntered over to my desk. “Hello, I’m Peter. Here to meet with Mr. Minola.”

His low, sultry voice could make anyone melt like butter. “It’s Miss Minola, actually. She’s finishing up a few other things, but will be with you shortly.” I gestured to the couch next to me where he could wait.

He flashed me a perfect row of sparkling teeth before going to sit down.

I looked at him through the corner of my eye. While Kathy doesn’t want to get married, this is the kind of guy she would take home for a night. Perhaps there was a way for Kathy to get married after all. She’d just need some help from her little sister.

I swiveled my chair to the side to face him. “Are you single?”

He chuckled. “Well, you’re rather forward.” I could feel his eyes dancing up and down my body. “Yeah, I’m single.”

“Oh no, not for me. It’s for Miss Minola. You seem like just her type.”

“Who’s to say she’s my type?”

“Well, she’s gorgeous. She’s kind…She’s rich.”

His eyes widened. “Then maybe she could be my type.”

“But you have to be subtle. She doesn’t want a relationship.”

He adjusted his jacket that started to slide off his shoulder. “I don’t mind a challenge.” He squinted his eyes at me and it felt like he was staring into my soul. “If she doesn’t want a relationship, why are you trying to set her up?

I could feel my cheeks starting to warm up. If I wanted this to work, I should give him the full picture. “She’s my sister. If she gets married, then I can get married and get access to my trust fund. But if I get married now, I’ll never have access to it.”

He flashed me that smile again. “I’ll see what I can do.”  

Three Months Later

“I need to break up with him,” Kathy said between sips.

I coughed up the wine that was halfway down my throat. Kathy picked up a towel and blotted at the drop I left on her white couch. Peter had been the picture-perfect boyfriend all thanks to me. I made sure he knew everything about her so she’d keep him around until she finally gave in and got married.

“I just don’t think he’s good for me. He expects me to do everything for him whenever he’s over.”

He works hard too and wants to relax. So what?

“He hates it when I chose seeing my friends over him.”

Is it a crime to want to spend time with you?

“He’ll correct me on things that I know I’m right about.”

Oh sure. The perfect sister can’t ever be wrong.

“And when I point these things out, he acts like it never happened. Like I made it up.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you’re overreacting. Maybe you’re just scared of a long-term relationship.”

We both turned towards the door as Peter walked into Kathy’s pent house apartment. He waved at us as he kicked his shoes off, landing them on their side by the dining table. I had specifically told him that she likes to keep the shoes in the closet. If he keeps this up, he’ll never get her to the altar.

Kathy patted my leg. “Bri, could you give us a minute?”

I grabbed the wine bottle from the table and headed down the hallway to my bedroom. I guess this was it. Kathy seemed to have made up her mind about Peter and I don’t know what else I can do to change it. I gave him every advantage I could to make her want to keep him around. But three months is the longest relationship she’s ever had. I don’t know if I can find another guy that’d last this long, much less marry her.

I made it about halfway to my room before I heard a loud crash. I ran back down the hallway to find the shattered remains of a dinner plate on the floor. Peter’s eyes were red and swollen as he smashed another plate onto the kitchen counter.

“You can’t leave me!” Peter’s voice rang out as he pulled a drawer out and threw it across the room.

“Peter, please! Let’s just talk.” I could barely hear Kathy’s voice over Peter’s sobs.

“Please Kathy. I can’t live without you.” He reached into one of the drawers and pulled a knife out, placing it against his wrist. “I won’t live without you.”

Kathy held her hands out in front of her. “Peter. Please, put that down.”

“I won’t live without you Kathy. I won’t.” Peter furiously shook his head.

“Okay! I’m sorry. Please just put the knife down.” I had never heard her voice shake like that before.

“I forgive you. I love you, Kathy. You’re everything to me.” The knife made a small thud as it fell from his hand.

She ran forward and flung her arms around him. “I love you too, Peter.”

She held him as he continued to sob into her neck. He glanced up for a brief second and our eyes met. He reached out one hand towards me and flashed me a thumbs up.

Six Months Later

“He asked me to marry him.” Kathy vigorously whisked some batter in a bowl. In the living room, Peter, Lucas, and several of their friends shouted obscenities at the TV. Her usually quiet apartment had become the meeting place for the guys’ weekly video game party. The once white couch now had stains throughout from the many beers spilled. The living room was littered with movie posters for some action movies that I know Kathy has never seen. I still couldn’t figure out how they managed to get an orange mark on the 15-foot-tall ceiling.

I carefully arranged the freshly baked cookies onto a plate and glance over at Kathy’s hand. “Well, where’s the ring?”

She scoffed. “I didn’t say yes.”

I broke a cookie in half. “Why not?”

“I don’t want to get married. Plus, he got really upset when I said no.”

“Well obviously he’s upset! He thinks you don’t love him!”

Kathy flinched slightly as I shouted at her. I looked up at the guys, shouting louder than me.

I lowered my voice. “Sometimes you don’t know what you want until you have it. Where’s the ring?”

Kathy sighed and pulled the ring out of her pocket. I took it from her hand and slide it onto her finger. She wiggled her hand a bit, making the large diamond reflect the kitchen light.

I squeezed her hand. “Marry him. He’ll be good for you.”

One Year Later

I stood outside with Kathy looking over the crowd of people. Most of the people had made their way outside to listen to the music once the band started playing. It was a large wedding; maybe 200 people showed up, some of which I don’t think were even invited. But it didn’t matter, because my wedding was perfect. I had finally pushed Kathy down the aisle a few months before and was able to accept Lucas’s proposal that night. The planning process was long, but Peter was gracious enough to let me stay in the pent house until I was married.

“This a great wedding, Bri. You planned quite the party.” Kathy clicked her glass against mine and drank every drop.

“Thank you, Kathy. I couldn’t do it without you.” I shouted back over the music.

“I have some news for you,” she said as she waived down another waiter. “I quit my job. You’ll still be employed until they find a replacement.”

I gasped. “What? Why would you quit?”

She grabbed another champagne flute from the waiter. “Marriage is busy. I don’t have time for a job anymore. I’ve recommended Peter for the position. You can interview with him. He’ll need an assistant and I’m sure he’ll hire you.”

I started to protest when one of the waiters came up. “Excuse me, Bri, your husband is wanting to speak to you.”

“Let me finish my conversation. Tell him I’ll be there in a bit.”

The waiter nodded and walked away.

I turned back to Kathy. “I don’t think you should quit-”

“You need to go see your husband. It’s disrespectful not too.”

“What?”

“He asked for you. Go see him.”

Another waiter came up to us. “Kathy, your husband is looking for you.”

“Here, let me show you how to be a wife.” She grabbed me by my wrist and guided me through the thong of people. She was gripping my wrist so hard I knew it would leave a bruise. I looked at her arm and noticed she already had a bruise that would match mine.

“Your life has begun now. When you’re a wife, your husband becomes King and you need to treat him like one. Anything less than that is treason. If he wants food, you make him food. If he wants sex, you give him sex. And if he calls for you, you run towards him.”

She pulled me through the doors into the dining room. The tables were empty except for a few stragglers around the edges. She led me past the tables to Peter and Lucas standing in the back of the room.

“Ah! Look! My wife! And yours!” Peter exclaimed as Kathy presented us to them.

Lucas looked up from his glass to me, his mouth in a straight line. “Why didn’t you come when I asked for you?”

I chuckled. “Why are you being so serious? I was just talking to Kathy.”

Lucas took a step towards me. “Well, she didn’t have a problem coming when she was told.”

Peter chuckled and slapped Lucas on the back. “Don’t worry, Lucas, you’ll learn soon enough how to tame your bride.”