My Nine Years'Worth

Later that day, my mother came to the hospital with my daughter.

The door opened slowly, and I looked up.

My mother stood there, one hand gripping the strap of her handbag. Beside her was Claire, holding tightly to her hand.

The moment Claire saw me, she let go of her grandmother and rushed to my bedside.

“Mommy!”

I barely had time to sit up before she wrapped her arms around me.

I pulled her close, burying my face against her hair. Her familiar scent filled my lungs, and for a moment, I forgot about the hospital, the divorce, and everything that had happened.

“You scared me,” Claire whispered. “Grandma said you were sick.”

“I’m okay, sweetheart.” My voice came out weaker than I intended. “See, Mommy is okay.”

My mother walked toward me slowly. Her eyes moved over my pale face, the IV attached to my hand, and the medication sitting on the bedside table.

“Oh, my child,” she pulled me into her arms.

“ “Look at me. Look at me,” she insisted, gently gripping my jaw and gently turning my face towards hers. “ You are going to be fine”.

“Mom...” My voice trembled.

She sat beside me and took my free hand in hers.

“I’m here; we are here for you “

I lowered my head, staring at our joined hands.

“I lost my baby.”

My mother's fingers tightened around mine.

“You have me, you have your father, you have Claire; you are not alone.” She gently lifted her hands and wiped the tears from my cheeks with her fingers.

“I know, Mom,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do ” I turned and looked at Claire, who was now sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, playing with her little pink-haired Barbie doll. She was brushing its hair with a tiny plastic comb, completely absorbed in her own little world. “How am I supposed to give her the life she deserves?”

She stroked my hair gently, her expression slightly unreadable.

“You don’t have to figure everything out today,” she murmured. “For now, just breathe. Let us carry you until you’re strong enough to stand on your own again.”

I nodded briefly.

She helped me lie back down, gently adjusting the pillow beneath my head.

“You need to rest,” she said softly. “You have to be strong for your daughter.”

I lay down on the bed with Claire beside me, listening to her little chatter as she played with her doll. Her innocent voice slowly eased the heaviness in my chest. I listened to her until my eyelids grew heavy and sleep finally claimed me.

………

A few days later after my discharge, though I still felt weak, but I was strong enough to leave the hospital. I emailed the lawyer to book an appointment; I knew I couldn't delay anything further. She responded almost immediately. I had to meet with her at exactly twelve noon the next day.

I pushed open the glass door of the lawyer’s office and stepped inside. I still felt weak, but I forced myself to keep my posture straight.

“Good afternoon,” I greeted.

“Good afternoon” she replied, rising slightly from her chair. “Please, have a seat. How are you feeling now?”

“I’m better,” I answered, lowering myself into the chair. “Still a little weak, but better.”

She studied my face for a moment. “You should still be resting. What you’ve been through hasn't been easy.”

“ I know, but it is what it is”, I forced myself to smile.

I sat across from my lawyer, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. She was quiet for a while before finally speaking.

“ I wish I had a better news” she said sliding a file across the desk “ please take a look .

My fingers went cold “What happened?”

She opened the file and took a breath. “ Your husband’s lawyer contacted me yesterday”

My hand tightened around the strap of my bag “ about the divorce?”

She nodded. “He knows you intend to continue with the divorce, and he has made his position very clear. He said that if you insist on going through with the divorce, he is willing to give you a limited settlement.”

I swallowed hard. “What does that mean?”

“He is offering you $20,000 as a full settlement that's less than what the company earns in a single month. He is also willing to continue paying Claire’s school fees and medical expenses.”

I waited for her to continue.

“That’s it?” I blinked.

She lowered her eyes to the documents. “As far as his offer is concerned, yes.”

I let out a short breath that sounded not like a laugh “After nine years?”

“I know.”

“I helped build that company. I stood beside him when we had almost nothing. I took care of his family. I supported his sister when she went abroad to study.” My voice trembled. “And this is what he thinks I deserve?”

My lawyer didn't answer immediately.

“He has also made it clear that he will not voluntarily share the company with you,” she said. “He is claiming that the business and several of the properties are primarily under his ownership. He wants you to accept the settlement and walk away.”

I stared at the papers in front of me. “So that's all I get, and if I don't accept this, then?”

She looked directly at me.

“Then we fight for what you may legally be entitled to. But I need you to understand that it could be a long, expensive, and complicated battle.”

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

My lawyer gently pushed the settlement papers toward me.

“Don't sign anything yet. We need to review the settlement and challenge what Shawn is offering you.”

I nodded, but the words barely reached me.

“I can't stay here anymore,” I whispered.

The lawyer leaned forward. “You don't have to make any decisions today. Take some time to…”

“I know,” I interrupted softly. “But if I stay, I'm afraid I'll break down right here.”

My eyes fell on the space where my signature was supposed to be; anger surged through me. I grabbed my bag, pushed myself to my feet and stormed out of the lawyer’s office.

I headed straight to Shawn's house. I needed to hear him say it to my face that after nine years of marriage, after everything I had sacrificed to build a life with him, he truly believed I was worth nothing more than twenty thousand dollars.