I’m going to die.
I’d been locked in a bitter war with Sean for
almost a decade. He paraded around with al
string of girlfriends, and I clung to half his
fortune. We both held each other’s weak spots,
neither willing to back down. But today, I was
finally ready to divorce him. Because…I was
dying.
1
I stared at the diagnosis, my hand trembling
slightly before I dialed Sean’s number.
“Where are you?”
“None of your business.” We were husband and
wife, but even asking about each other’s
whereabouts was considered an overstep.
“Come home,” I tapped my fingers on the table.
“We’re getting a divorce.”
<
“Ha,” he scoffed before hanging up. Of course.
I’d used this tactic too many times, mostly just as an excuse to see him.
He had every right not to believe me.
I waited two days. He didn’t come home.
Looking at the paper that spelled out my expiration date, I decided I didn’t have a single second to waste. I grabbed my purse and walked out.
There was another way to find Sean, one that
never failed.
“Knock, knock, knock!” I rapped sharply on the door. A delicate–looking girl opened it, her eyes wide with fear, as if I could shred her to pieces through the wood.
I rolled my eyes. “Hey, tell Sean to come home.
Tell him I want a divorce. Make sure he gets the
highest hopes for you. Once we’re divorced,
maybe you’ll be Mrs. Sean.”
Her eyes welled up. “Mrs. Lincoln…I never…”
I sighed, cutting her off. “Spare me the fake
innocence. Just tell him. If he’s not home by
tomorrow, I’m breaking down this door and
smashing your apartment. You think a fancy
doorbell is going to stop me?”
I didn’t bother waiting for a reply. I turned and
left. If I knew Sean, I’d see him tonight. He
treasured Chloe. He wouldn’t tolerate me
challenging her like this.
As dusk settled, he stormed into my apartment,
fury etched on his face.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from Chloe?!”
I poured myself a glass of wine, taking my time.
“So? What are you going to do about it?”
<
He was livid but powerless. All he could do was
hurl insults. “I don’t understand what you get
out of this! Chloe is obedient enough. We have
no feelings for each other, you won’t divorce
me, and you won’t even let me have someone I
actually like!”
“You just want everyone to be as miserable and
alone as you are!”
“Crash!” I slammed my glass on the floor,
shattering it.
He was right. I was lonely. That’s why I’d clung
to him for all these years, refusing to let go
even though our love had long since died.
“Yeah, I’m in hell. And you shouldn’t get to be in
heaven,” I retorted, matching his anger.
But inside, I was exhausted. Every encounter
with Sean for the past few years had been a
battle. What was the point?
<
I poured another glass of wine, sat across from
him, and slid the divorce papers across the
table. “Sign it. Even if I’m going to hell, I don’t want to see you there.”
“We can’t stand each other alive; let’s not
haunt each other after death!”
Sean scowled as he picked up the papers. I watched him through the wine in my glass. He was still handsome, with thick eyebrows, dark
eyes, a strong nose, and thin lips. Oh, right,
that’s why he’s so heartless.
How could life be so unfair, letting some people.
remain attractive for a decade while others…
“What are you up to?” He glared at me
suspiciously.
I scoffed. “I just want the house. Everything else
is yours. I’m giving up all our shared assets.
Can’t you read?”
<
Maybe I’d asked for too much in the past. Now,
this sudden change must have seemed
suspicious.
The house was our marital home. It wasn’t
worth much anymore, but I couldn’t bear the
thought of another woman living there with him.
I was spiteful. I couldn’t stomach the image of
him happy with someone else.
Besides, even if it wasn’t worth much, selling it
would buy a decent plot in a good cemetery. My
childhood home for my eternal resting place. I
came into this world with nothing, and I’d leave.
the same way. At least it would be peaceful.
Sean cautiously flipped through the agreement
again and again before finally speaking. “I’ll
have my lawyer draw up a new one. The house
is yours. On top of that, you’ll get another
million. We’ll be completely done.”
I raised an eyebrow. He was being generous,
<
buying his freedom from our ten years together
for a mere million.
“Your lawyer? I don’t trust your lawyer. Do you
think I trust your lawyer?” See? I still couldn’t
speak to him civilly. Even in the moment I was
finally setting him free, I couldn’t resist a jab.
Defeated, I softened my voice. “Fine. I agree.”
He grabbed the papers and headed for the
door. “My assistant will bring the final
agreement tomorrow. You better sign it
immediately.”
He’d been waiting for this day for so long. I
imagined him calling his lawyers in the middle
of the night for an emergency meeting,
analyzing the agreement for any hidden traps I
might have set.
I shrugged. “Sure, whatever. The sooner, the
better.”
<
He still eyed me with suspicion, adding another
condition. “I expect you to leave Chicago once
you get the money. We should both move on
with our lives, right?”
Bitterness welled up inside me. I shoved him out.
the door and slammed it shut. Out of sight, out
of mind.
