When the Obsessiveness Leaves Me

The day Adrian Halloway came to take me home from the hospital—with another woman at his side—I tucked the divorce agreement out of sight.Even though I'd lost ten years of memories, I recognized the handwriting on that paper. It was mine. The date at the bottom was yesterday."Juliana Rowe, do you ever go a single day without making trouble?" Adrian leaned against the car window, his voice like cold steel. "If this happens again, I won't lift a finger to help you."Ten years had carved lines into his face, but the one thing that hadn't changed was the disdain in his eyes.The woman beside him was beautiful, with an unsettling trace of familiarity."Adrian, don't talk to her like that," she said softly. "She just had a car accident and suffers from amnesia. She needs rest."Adrian gave a sharp, derisive laugh, contempt flashing in his gaze. "Amnesia? Sounds like just another one of her tricks. After all these years, and she still hasn't grown up."He pulled open the back door. "

I couldn't wait to see Adrian's face when he came home and found the house transformed.When he finally returned, he froze at the doorway, his brows immediately furrowing."Juliana, I don't care if this amnesia is real or fake. You're thirty years old. Can you stop acting like you're still twenty? How childish."He didn't even step inside. He slammed the door and left.One of the porcelain figurines I'd carefully picked out toppled from the cabinet and shattered across the floor. I knelt, gathering the pieces, fitting them back together. The jagged cracks looked like badly sewn scars.Stroking its tiny head, I whispered, "Little porcelain man, you know Adrian's always like this. Don't cry. Don't cry…"Once again, I comforted myself.In the days that followed, I tried every trick in the book to cross paths with him.When it rained, I showed up under his office with an umbrella. Unfortunately, he drove off in his luxury car with Vanessa by his side. When they passed me, he didn't

March 9, 2017. Two years married. Adrian ate dinner at home for the first time. He said my cooking was good! Finally, my new skills are useful.August 31, 2018. While cooking today, Adrian actually asked me to add chili and cilantro. He said, since we're married, I shouldn't always be the one to compromise, and that he should change for me too. I'm so touched I could cry! But seriously, how hard is it to just say you love me, Adrian, you stubborn man?May 21, 2019. Fourth anniversary! Adrian took me to the movies and even prepared a gift. The way he kissed me under the streetlight… He's so handsome. No, no, we're old married folks now. I have to play it cool.May 21, 2020. Lately, Adrian's been coming home more often. I asked him why. He said… because he missed me.October 20, 2022. Vanessa Grant is back. Adrian didn't come home all night.February 1, 2023. Adrian threw out all the couple sets in the house. He called them childish.May 21, 2024. Adrian carries more and more of Va

I used to say, "Adrian, you're so cute."He'd turn his back, ignoring me.So I'd keep repeating it, "Adrian, you're so cute."Eventually, he'd press a hand to his forehead, push me away, and mutter, "Enough, I get it," while trying to hide the flush at his ears.Or that time in our fourth year of marriage, when I got really, really sick.Adrian, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, actually tried cooking for me. He brought over a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup, placing it proudly in front of me.I hadn't even tasted it yet before blurting out, "Whatever my husband makes is the best!"Adrian gave a helpless smile, hands on his hips, before shoving a big spoonful into my mouth."Can't even keep quiet while eating, huh?"Then I chewed, blinked, and thought, 'Ugh!' The chicken was way too dry, and the soup was way too salty. Honestly, it was awful.My thoughts drifted back to the present. Adrian stared at the divorce papers, his eyes lowered.As happy as we'd once

"I haven't liked her for a long time. This past month, I've thought about everything. Once I figured it out, I cut ties with her."I heard her family forced her into an arranged marriage… She's gone now. She'll never appear in front of you again."Adrian's gaze held steady on me as he spoke, his tone sincere.I frowned. "Why are you telling me this? What does it have to do with me?"A faint spark flickered in his eyes as he pressed on, clumsy but insistent, "Jules, I know it's over between us. But I want… I want you to give me a chance to chase you again. Would you let me?"I could hear the tremor hidden beneath his hopeful words. The sunlight bathed us, but my face remained still, my voice flat and cool."No need, Adrian. I think I'm doing just fine on my own. To me, you're not as important as you once were. So let's just wish each other well."I didn't look back. I didn't let his hands stop me. Step by step, I walked out of his world.Adrian watched my retreating figure, lost