SIGNED SILENCE

The divorce papers were placed on the table between us, it was a white paper, a black ink and final words.

I looked at my name printed neatly at the bottom of the page ‘Ava Blackwood’ and felt an odd sense of separation like I was looking at someone else’s life ending instead of my own.

Across from me, Ethan Blackwood sat behind his wide desk with his relaxed posture and he looked more excited than he has always been. He was dressed so elegantly as always in his tailored suit, expensive watch and cufflinks glinting under the lights, not even a single strand of his hair was out of place.

At this point he didn’t look like a man divorcing his wife instead he looked like a man concluding a deal that no longer benefited him, “Have you finished reading it?” he asked tapping his pen lightly against the table, the sharp and impatient sound echoed in the room “I don’t have all day.” he said

I lifted my head slowly to see the man had been my husband for three years, I mean three years of quiet endurance, loving him alone and always shrinking myself to fit into his life that never truly made space for me.

“Yes,” I said. “I have read everything.” I added. “And?” He raised his brow slightly as if my calm unsettled him. “Any objections?” he said and that almost made me smile, did he just say objections?

Did he expect me to object to the clause that stripped me of everything? The house I decorated but never owned? The marriage that was mine in name only? I shook my head. “No objections.” I replied

That finally caught his attention, Ethan leaned forward with his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied my face. “You’re not asking for anything?” he asked surprisingly

“No.” I said boldly.

“No property, no compensation, not even an apology?” he pressed on but I shook my head again and for a brief moment, his excitement faltered.

“So what is this?” he asked coldly. “Some kind of performance? You think acting this way will make me regret divorcing you?” I looked at him fully and then I saw that the man who once held my hand on our wedding day now looked at me like I was a stranger who had overstayed her welcome.

“You are mistaken,” I said quietly. “I’m not acting, the thing is that I'm just done.” I said and his jaw tightened. “You won’t survive without me, Ava,” he said with great confidence. “You’ve always depended on me, you know.” he added

Those words should have hurt but they didn’t. “I have survived being invisible in this thing called marriage,” I replied calmly. “So, I think I can manage.” I added and silence fell heavily between us. Ethan stared at me for a long moment without uttering a word then he just pushed the papers toward me. “Sign it.”

I picked up the pen and as I signed the memories flash through my mind like broken glass, the waiting up at night with cold dinners, the unanswered calls and the growing presence of Sienna, his so-called office assistant in every part of his life. I remembered the night I walked into our bedroom and saw her wearing his shirt, the way she smiled at me and the way Ethan said nothing about that.

I put the pen down after signing, “I will move out today,” I said, standing up.

“There’s no rush,” Ethan replied flatly. “Sienna will also be moving in soon anyway.” he said boldly and the word landed like a slap.

So he did not even intend to hide it, I nodded slowly. “Congratulations.” And for some reason that seemed to irritate him more than anger would have.

“You are pretending to be strong,” he said sharply. “Don’t come crawling back when you regret this.” he said with confidence.

I walked toward the door and then paused. “Ethan,” I said softly. He looked up, I was sure he was expecting and hoping for something like an apology, a plea or even tears. “You will surely regret this,” I said simply. His lips curled into a cold smile. “Don’t flatter yourself.” He said but I didn’t reply, I just walked out.

The moment the elevator doors closed, my strength collapsed, nausea began to surge violently through me, it was so sudden and overwhelming that I had to grip the rail to stay upright, my vision suddenly blurred and cold sweat began to break out across my skin.

I stumbled out of the building and barely made it into the restroom before vomiting, my body was trembling as everything I’d held in finally tried to spill out, tears slid down my cheeks.

I pressed my trembling hand to my lower abdomen, inside me was a secret Ethan Blackwood didn’t know existed, a child conceived on that one night he came home drunk, exhausted and vulnerable, he whispered my name like he still needed me.

I had a pregnancy test just two days ago and it was positive. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to the tiny life growing inside me. “But we are better off without him.” The restroom door opened, I looked up into the mirror and froze as I saw Sienna already standing behind me, looking flawless, confident and victorious as ever.

“I heard,” she said lightly. “You signed without a fight.” she said. I straightened slowly and wiped my mouth. “Enjoy what you won.” She smiled sweetly. “I will, because Ethan deserves someone who understands him.”

Her gaze dropped down to my stomach before returning to my face. “And don’t worry,” she added softly and cruelly. “I’ll give him the children you never could.”

The words pierced deeper than she could ever imagine, just if only she knew.

I just walked past her without another word as the doors closed behind me.

I made a silent vow that Ethan Blackwood would never know about the child growing inside me and that one day, he would regret losing us both.