4

Ariane’s POV

"This is what I’ve decided, Leon. Nothing can change it anymore." my voice sounded stronger than I felt. These words kept ringing in my head as I hung up the phone after talking to the lawyer. The divorce proceedings had begun, and I knew this was the right move, even though it felt hard.

I sat on the small sofa in my new apartment, feeling a strange silence. There were no usual noises from home, no Leon in the morning or his footsteps at night. It’s just me, these white walls, and the sometimes excruciating silence. But I needed this. I need time and space to find myself again.

My mind drifted to the missed calls from Leon that were piling up. Every call from him was a reminder of what I was dealing with-the husband who was now a stranger to me. The husband who had made me doubt everything, including the love I once thought was eternal. I can’t answer his calls. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

When he found my apartment, I knew this meeting wouldn’t be easy. There was a loud knock on my apartment door, and without looking through the peephole, I already knew who was there.

"Ariane, please open the door. We need to talk!’’ His voice came from outside, filled with a complicated mix of emotions-anger, sadness, and despair. I let out a long breath, feeling the tightness in my chest.

I opened the door. In front of me stood Leon, his tired face and bloodshot eyes showing how much he had lost in this short time. But I didn’t let sympathy ruin my firmness.

"What’s wrong, Leon? We’ve said all that needs to be said," I said, trying not to be affected by his pitiful expression.

"Please, Ariane," he whispered, his voice softer now, filled with hope I felt was unfair. "Please, rethink your decision. I can’t imagine life without you. I know I was wrong, but I want us to fix it together."

I looked at him, feeling the old wounds being scratched again.

Leon, I’ve thought about this. We’ve tried, and every time we just end up more hurt. I can’t go on like this."

He came closer, taking my hand in his icy fingers. I could feel the trembling in his hand, a clear sign he was terrified.

"I will change, Ariane. I’ll do anything to get you back. For our children."

"You think I don’t want things to go back to the way they were?" I replied in a higher voice, the pain I had been holding in all this time bursting out. "I tried, Leon! I’ve given us chance after chance, but look where we are now. I can’t take it anymore."

He paused, looking at me with a broken look.

"I know I was wrong. I know I ruined everything. But please, give me one more chance. For our sake."

"I’ve given you all the chances I could. And now, I have to think about our children. They deserve more than what we have now."

Those words brought him to a halt. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then swallowed back his words. A silence fell over us, like an unbridgeable distance between two people who were once so close.

I pulled my hand from his grasp.

"Leon, you should go. This is over. Let me live my life and you with yours."

He looked like he wanted to resist, but ended up just bowing his head, surrendering to a reality he couldn’t change.

"If that’s what you want," he said in a trembling voice.

I nodded, holding back the tears that were beginning to fill my eyes.

"It’s what’s best for all of us."

When he turned to leave, I felt a strange sense of relief mixed with sadness. But I knew this was the first step towards freedom and a better life for myself and my children.

However, suddenly my stomach felt like it was being stabbed, the pain so sharp and unbearable.

"Leon..." my voice only came out as a whisper as I fell to my knees, my hands holding my growing belly. The pain intensified, as if my body was screaming in pain like I had never felt before.

Leon, who had almost reached the door, quickly turned around and saw me falling.

"Ariane! What happened?" He immediately ran towards me, panic clearly visible on his face.

I wanted to answer, wanted to assure him that I was fine, but the pain was too strong. My head began to feel light, and my vision began to blur. The only thing I could think about was the children in my stomach. They were okay, weren’t they? They had to be okay.

I could feel Leon holding me, his frantic voice calling my name.

"Please, Ariane, stay afloat! I’ll take you to the hospital!’

However, his words only sounded in my ears, and before I knew what was happening, everything turned dark. I felt like I was falling into a cold and frightening void, without knowing what would happen next.

When I woke up again, I was no longer in my apartment. I was lying in a strange place, with strange sounds echoing all around me. I tried to open my eyes, but the world around me was still spinning, and the pain in my stomach hadn’t disappeared. I didn’t know where I was, or what would happen next, but one thing was for sure-my life would never be the same.