The sun was just starting to rise when David finally arrived at the house in the countryside. He had been driving all night, stopping only once for gas, and he had the weariness of a long journey in his eyes.
As he pulled into the driveway, he looked up at the building and was struck by a sudden pang of guilt. His brother Ian lived here happily with his wife Dolores, and here he was, about to intrude on their daily routines. He had called them the night before to let them know he was coming, but he still felt like an unwelcome trespasser.
He slowly opened the car door and stepped out, his feet feeling like lead weights as he trudged toward the entrance. He was nearly there when he heard the sound of laughter coming from inside, and he stopped in his tracks.
Through the window, he could see Ian and Dolores in the living room, kissing and embracing like newlyweds. He felt a wave of sinful regret as he watched them, but he couldn't look away.
This was the brother he had grown up with, the one he had shared so many childhood memories with. But Dolores had long replaced him as Ian's soulmate, while the story of his own love life would easily fit on a post-it note.
He watched as the couple kissed and embraced, until finally his brother stepped away and began getting ready for work. His wife remained in the living room, and David couldn't help but admire her beauty. It was obvious why his brother loved her so much. He couldn't deny that he was incredibly jealous.
David remained in the driveway until his brother had left, and then he slowly made his way to the front door and let himself in. Dolores was still in the living room, and she gave him a warm welcome.
"Good morning, David, how have you been?" she said with a smile.
"Good morning, Dolores." David replied, nervously.
She gestured for him to sit down, and he did, feeling awkward and out of place.
"Well, David." she said. "You know you're more than welcome to stay here as long as you need. I'm sure your brother won't mind either."
They exchanged some small talk, and Dolores inquired about his long journey, until she looked at her watch and said: "I'm afraid I don't have more time to catch up right now, as I need to be in the office shortly. Here's the key to the front door. I guess you already know your way to the guest room. We'll talk later."
David thanked her and then quickly excused himself, heading to his room to unpack.
That evening, they all sat down together and took their time to catch up. David and Ian dug up some memorable anecdotes from their childhood, and Dolores listened with great interest. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant, and David felt quite at home and appreciated the hospitality with which the couple had received him.
As the days passed, David gradually became more comfortable in the house. He often found himself near his brother's bedroom, as if there were a secret allure that drew him to it. He'd often find himself creeping at the doorway, just in time to catch a glimpse of his brother and his wife in a passionate embrace.
He felt guilty for spying on them, but he also took a certain perverse pleasure in it. He'd never seen his brother being intimate with a woman before, and there was something uniquely thrilling about it. Especially since that woman was Dolores, a natural beauty with a fantastic personality. Her curves were so perfect even the greatest painters would find it hard to replicate. To watch them like that, was like a secret he was sharing with them, and he felt strangely connected to them in that moment.
David didn't know that Ian and Dolores had obviously caught glimpses of his shadow at the door, but neither of them had decided to speak up about it. In Ian's case, it was likely a sense of pride, impressing little brother with his valuable price. While Dolores had always felt the desire to be watched, it was no coincidence she had become a celebrity with her live talk show on television. Ian and David were also more similar than they'd realize, so she recognized the same qualities in David that she came to love about her husband.
One day, when he peaked into their bedroom, David caught Ian on the phone while his other hand was handling some kind of small device. His mumbled voice made David assume it had to be Dolores at the other end, but he couldn't understand a word of their conversation. He did notice a peculiar smile on Ian's face, while he talked quietly but with a clear excitement in his tone. David was quite certain the phone call was very intimate, but he had no clue what was up with the little device.
When David caught his brother in a similar situation again the following week, he realized it was around the exact same time. And again, Ian was playing with the device, while excitedly talking to his phone. David's curiosity was too much for him, and he quietly sneaked into the room, just enough to catch bits of the ongoing conversation.
