Her Exodus, His Regret.

 1. Alone...

It was their anniversary night — hers and his. She'd prepared everything. The cakes, waffles and his favorite dishes, just the way he liked them. And she waited, at the dining just like she's always done in the past years. 

Eight. Nine. Ten. He wasn't yet back. Dahlia gave a start. Did he forget? But even if he did, she'd called him earlier to remind him and he'd told her to wait. Anxious, she stood from the dining and quickly ringed him up. However, all she got was the automated voice of the female robot. She tried again and again but only the robotic voice answered. 

Dahlia felt her heart turn cold with dread. She clenched her fists tightly as though that would squash the ominous feeling brewing in her chest. 

Just then, the front door clicked. Dahlia felt her heart skip just a beat, her eyes lighting up and without thought, she rushed to the door. 

"Hey honey--" but her voice faltered when she saw who it was. It was just the butler, Ma'am Camille. 

"Camie" she caught her speech in time. 

"Mrs Voss, is there a problem? Do you need anything?" she asked. 

Dahlia allowed her lips to stretch into a tight smile which felt painful. "No, I'm okay" she said and stepped back. She inhaled deeply trying to calm herself down. 

"What happened then?" Dahlia asked. "You're suddenly back here". 

"Oh...uh..." Ma'am Camille began, her voice hesitant. 

"What happened Camie?" Dahlia pressed, her voice trembling. 

"It's the master" the butler said.

Dahlia clamped her teeth tight. She didn't know why, but...her heart kept pounding like a thousand war drums in her chest. 

"He says he won't be coming back tonight. Miss Vale got into an accident" the butler explained. 

Miss Vale. Her. Again. 

Dahlia swallowed. She tried to speak but couldn't find the words. She simply nodded with a shaky, "Mm" to what the butler had just said. 

"Goodnight Mrs Voss" she said and left. 

Dahlia didn't move. It was as though she had been nailed to that spot. She tried to clench her fists but her hands only trembled. 

After a minute or so, she got herself and immediately dialed her husband's number. Yet, it was still the automated voice. Just then, a notification slipped in. She looked at her phone. It was an I*******m notification with the username, @Luce#1. It was her husband's. She quickly clicked on it.

Her breathing shuddered with every scroll, the caption still hammering in her mind, "#Luce#1#Shay#eatingnightcookies#. 

Tears brimmed the edges of her eyes as she looked at the pictures. Her husband, Lucien was sitted on the hospital bed beside Sasha, feeding her cookies. There was even a video where he was coaxing her to eat the cookies. And those were the cookies she'd actually made for him to have as a side snack for lunch! 

Dahlia tried swallowing but it was so painful that she let out a tight cry. Her legs finally gave way, dropping her to the ground. She clutched her heart as if she could hold the pain. 

"Why...why Lucien...? Why would you do this...? Why...."

Dahlia stayed in that position for a long time, losing track of time. Every time she'd spent with him flashed before her eyes and she realized, perhaps this was her memory alone. Lifting herself from the floor, she walked towards the stairs and took it. She was about to enter her room but her feet seemed to have a mind of their own. She found herself standing in the middle of her husband's room. Come to think of it, they'd never shared a room. He'd told her that he needed his own space to work because she usually distracts him. She remembered blushing when he'd said this but now, that was the most the ridiculous excuse she's ever heard. 

She looked around, looking for nothing in particular till her gaze landed on the half-open bottom drawer. It was open. And something was in it. Dahlia eyed it and turned to leave. But then, curiosity suddenly crept in and an inner voice that kept telling her to "check it out". Perhaps, she was afraid of what it might be but still...

She moved and knelt beside the drawer. She pulled it out further and picked up the envelope. She opened it, her hands jittery with every movement. Then she took out the contents in it.

The "DIVORCE AGREEMENT" inscribed boldly on top made her breath hitch. She'd had a hunch but, she never expected it to be true. This was...her worst fear. These papers. 

She raked her gaze which was already blurred with tears through the papers, down to the signature spot. And there it was. Her husband's powerful calligraphic signature sprawled under the spot of "Husband". 

Dahlia slapped her hand over her lips and sobbed. Tear drops plopped onto the signature and she secretly hoped it would wipe the signature or maybe turn acidic and burn the papers. But none of this happened. And she finally realized one thing. She's been alone all these years.