I Want A Divorce

I didn't almost stand up, I wiped my tears with my trembling hands and walked towards the door. When I opened it , my heart stopped .

It’s Eva, coat on - suitcase in one of her hands and handbag on the other hand. My gaze fixed on hers..

“What are you doing here?”

I came for him," Eva said a smug taunting smile played on her lips, "my baby."I stared at the suitcase, then at Eva’s face waiting for the punchline that didn't come.

"You're joking," I said.

"I'm not." Eva picked up the suitcase like this was the most reasonable thing in the world and walked in looking everywhere as though she was searching for something.

“Get out of my house, Eva”

“ Your house, really?”

Upstairs, a door opened. Shawn appeared at the top of the stairs, and for the first time all night, he looked something other than certain. He looked at Eva. He looked at the suitcase. He looked at me.

"Eva, what are you doing—"

“I'm moving in, baby”

“ Moving in?”

“Yes, after all this is going to be my home opps this is my home” a mischievous smile playing on her face

"You can't move in”

“Baby, why?, you said you loved me “

"That's not what i meant, after...... after things were settled. Not while she's still—" He gestured vaguely at me, like I was a mess he hadn't finished cleaning up.

I glanced at both of them, it felt as if I forgot how to breathe .

I finally let the tears I had been holding back fall. A loud sob escaped my lips as I broke down, crying bitterly. In my anger and pain, I grabbed the flower vase from the table and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into pieces, the sound echoing through the room.

“Mummy!” my daughter, Claire, came running out of the room, frightened by the noise. She stopped at the doorway, her little face filled with fear as she stared at me through  her tear-filled eyes.

“Mummy, what happened?”

I couldn't answer. I sank to the floor, burying my face in my hands as another painful sob escaped me.

Claire's eyes immediately filled with tears.

She rushed to me and wrapped her tiny arms around my neck.

“Mummy, please don't cry. My shoulders shook as I pulled Claire tightly into my arms.

“I'm sorry,” I sobbed. “I'm so sorry, baby.”

Shawn glanced at the shattered vase on the floor, then at me on the floor with Claire in my arms.

“You're overreacting,” he said coldly.

“Overreacting?”

“Yes. You’re blowing things out of proportion”.

“After everything you said I'm overreacting?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Look, I'm not asking you to leave. I still care about you, but things have changed between us.” He hesitated before finally saying” we can make this an open relationship”

I went completely still.

“You want me to accept you sleeping with my best friend?”

“It's not about accepting her,” he replied. “It's about giving each other freedom. You can see other people too.”

My gaze was fixed on him as if I could no longer recognized the man standing in front of her.

“And you expect me to smile and agree to this?”

“I'm giving you a choice.”

She let out a bitter laugh.

“No. You're asking me to accept a marriage where my husband is allowed to love another woman while I pretend everything is normal.”

He shrugged.

“You’re inventing a problem where there isn't one, Amelia relax we can work this out”

“How? Shawn , how? just tell me how you intend to mend my shattered heart? How do you intend to fix everything? I looked down at Claire, who was still holding tightly onto me.

I didn't argue with him anymore. There was nothing left to say. I simply walked into the bedroom and pulled a small suitcase from the wardrobe. My hands trembled as I packed a few clothes for myself and Claire, barely looking at the things I was leaving behind.

Claire stood quietly by the door, watching me.

“Mummy, where are we going?”

I knelt in front of my daughter and gently held her hands.

“We're going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a while.”

“Is Daddy coming with us?”

My heart tightened.

“No, baby.”

I zipped the suitcase and picked it up.

For nine years, this house had been my home. I had built memories here, celebrated birthdays, welcomed my daughter, and believed I would grow old beside the man I loved.

Now, I was walking out with one small suitcase. I took Claire's hand and headed for the door without looking back.

My husband simply watched as I approached the door and didn't stop me and somehow, that hurt more than anything he had said.

I booked a cab and left without looking back.

The ride to my parents' house felt longer than usual. I sat quietly beside Claire, staring out of the window while tears blurred the passing lights.

When we finally arrived, I stepped out with our small suitcase and walked toward the familiar house. It was a modest but comfortable home, with a neat little garden in front and warm lights glowing through the windows.

The moment I knocked, the door opened, my parents froze when they saw us.

My eyes were swollen and red, my face streaked with tears, and I looked nothing like the daughter who had left their home all these years.

But they didn't ask a single question. My mother simply pulled me into a warm embrace.

“Come inside, my child.”

That was all it took.

I broke down against my mother's shoulder . My father quietly took the suitcase from my hand while my mother held me close.

“Take Claire upstairs,” my mother told my younger sister, who had just appeared from the hallway. My sister immediately reached for Claire's hand.

“Come on, Claire. Let's go upstairs.” Claire glanced back at me before following her aunt.

As soon as they disappeared upstairs, my father turned to me, his expression suddenly serious.

“Now,” he said gently, “tell us what happened.

“ Everything” tears streamed down my face. My father placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Whatever happened, you don't have to face it alone. You're home now.”

My mother wiped the tears from my cheek.

“You don't have to explain everything tonight. Take a breath, my child. You are safe here.”

I tried to speak through my tears “he … he cheated on me after everything and that with my best friend “

My father’s expression hardened, but his voice remained calm

“So what's your plan?”

“I want a divorce!”.