Let me go

The next morning,

Richard woke up to the sound of plates from the dinning room, he could tell Elaine was making breakfast as she always did. It was a habit of hers to make breakfast even though she knew that he wouldn't eat and might ignore her.

He took a shower and then stepped out of the room.

Once she saw him, she smiled.

“I made breakfast for us” she said gesturing for him to join her.

Richard stood there with his hand in his pockets and she began to think if he was really going to join her or if her efforts will go to waste just like other mornings in their marriage.

“When did you wake up?” he asked instead not moving an inch.

“Past 5” she answered.

He took a good look at his watch and realized that she was up two hours ago making breakfast.

With slow movement, he made his way to his seat where he sat down staring at the food in front of him.

“Is there a feast?” he asked.

“No, I was just trying new recipes” she replied.

He picked up his spoon and began eating with no more questions,

Elaine took her seat joining him but she couldn't eat immediately. This was the first time he ate her food so she wanted to savor the moment by watching him eat.

“Are you eating?” he asked tired of the stare, he knew she had been watching him for a while.

“It's just a miracle that you would eat my food, I thought you would ignore me as you always do” she replied.

“Don't make this any awkward otherwise I will leave” he threatened and she changed the topic immediately.

“How about Mother, are you going to let her back in?” she asked.

He raised his head to look at her and fear gripped her with the death stare on his face.

“She needs to learn her lesson” he said.

The breakfast was quiet and Elaine had barely eaten anything, her mind was clouded thinking about things that she didn't notice Richard was done eating and had returned his dishes to the kitchen.

“Elaine” his sweet voice rung in her ear waking her from her reverie.

“If you are not eating then you should pack it up, your meal is getting cold anyways” he said.

“Oh yes” she said standing up and he turned to leave.

“Richard” she called causing him to halt in his steps.

“I was thinking about what mother said and I think she is right” she added.

With a swift tilt in his head, Richard turned to look at her.

“What are you talking about?” He asked with a dead stare.

“I mean, not all that she said was trying true.

I mean, I did try to cheat on you but ended up having a one night stand with you. I don’t know the details of how it happened for you but I know that I wanted to be free from the life I was leaving” she confessed.

Richard folded his arms listening to her,

“You see, I don’t want to be that woman that cooks each day wishing that her husband would atleast try to eat her food.

You don’t know how happy I am that you ate with me but then it made me think. I have just a year to live, is this how it is going to be.

Am I going to continued spending the last year I have wishing you could love me. Waking up every morning thinking you would be a better person and treat me right. Hoping that someday you would tell me that you are in love with me as much as I am in love with you. I know none of that would actually happen, the years I have spent with you is more than enough for me to know that” she paused looking at him with seriousness.

“Where are you going with this?” He asked.

“I have thought about this for a while now and I think it is actually the right decision”

“What decision?” He demanded impatient.

“I want a divorce” she answered.

Richard’s palm folded into a fist,

“We have already talked about this” he replied.

“I know but this time I am really serious, I really do want a divorce, I can't keep living like this” she uttered.

“You know my answer to that”

“Please Richard” her voice breaking down as tears streamed down her eyes. Elaine was in so much pain asking for a divorce from the man she loved the most so that she could start her life again without him.

“No, I can't let that happen” he refused.

“Why?”

“I can't let you go” he answered.

“Please Richard, I think it is high time you let me go” she uttered.

Richard rushed towards her flipping the dining table over, he stood directly in front of her until there was nothing but an inch left in front of them.

“I can't,” he said.

“Please” she pleaded. He held his left hand in hers and kissed it. A drop of her tears fell into his hand.

“I want to be set free, I can't live like this anymore. I am begging you”

“Elaine”

“Richard please, I have the papers with me, all you have to do is sign them” she begged.

“Elaine”

“Please Richard, set me free” she demanded.

“Bring them” he said, his eyes closed as he started.

Elaine was shocked,

“What?”

“Bring the papers if that is really what you want?” he answered.

Standing there frozen, Elaine didn't know what to say, was he finally agreeing to let her go.

“It's... What... I want” she stuttered.

“Fine, I will sign them” he agreed.

Elaine sluggishly to the room and pulled out the divorce papers from her purse. She stood there staring at it for a while, a drop of tears fell from her eyes to the paper but she cleaned it off and walked out to meet him. She watched him sign the papers and then give it back to her.

“You are free from me now” he said and walked into his study.

Elaine folded the papers and returned to the room stuffing them into her purse. She picked up a coat and wore it then stepped out of the mansion without looking back.

Richard could see her through his window, his jaw pinned tightly to each other as she watched her leave.

He walked up to his book shelf and pushed it down due to anger, he threw everything on his table to the ground. He was boiling mad, he couldn't believe he had actually done that.

***

Elaine didn't drive back to Cassandra’s home but she went to a hotel bar.

“Two shots of tequila” she requested.

The bartender stared at her unsure if he should be giving it to her, it was too early to get drunk but when he saw her crying, he instantly knew that she needed the shot.

Elaine couldn't comprehend what had just happened, she knew she had pleaded for him to divorce her but she didn't think he would agree that quickly. Her heart was shattered making her rethink if he had ever had an ounce of love for her.

She had dedicated herself to loving him through out their marriage but not once did he show any affection towards her.

“That bastard, I hope you rot in hell” she cursed.

“Two shots” the bartender said dropping the glass before her. She picked it and drank each shot.

With the hope that the alcohol will help her forget about him but rather it brought out the pain and misery in her. She sat there crying aloud and alerting customer.

“Ma'am” the bartender tried to stop her from causing a scene quite early.

“How dare he divorce me, how can he do such a thing to me” she yelled then passed out on the counter.

The buzzing sound of her phone attracted the bartender and he picked up her call.

“Hello”

“Who is this and why do you have my friend's phone” Cassandra noticing the strange voice demanded.

“Your friend is at our bar right now, passed out, can you come pick her?” he requested.

“Send me the location, I will be there” she replied packing her things.

When Cassandra arrived, Elaine was still sleeping. She got help from a young man who picked her up all the way to her car.

She thanked the man and drove off.