Invisible to her Husband
“How long has this been going on?” Fatima’s voice is steady, almost too steady. Her husband of six years stands there without a hint of shame.
“Does it matter, Fatima? Yes, Leslie is pregnant with my child, but nothing is going to change,” he says, annoyed that she dares question him. Her calmness makes him shift, though he refuses to show it.
“How. Long?” She repeats slowly, keeping her voice low so she won’t wake their sleeping children.
“Three years.”
Fatima blinks. “You’ve been cheating on me for half our marriage… with your business partner?”
“Lower your voice. Don’t make it sound bad. I’m a man – these things happen.” He even chuckles. “Leslie will be taken care of. You’ll stay the wife, and Leslie and I–”
“Will get married,” she cuts in. He stares, thrown off, until she adds, “Top drawer in your office. Divorce papers. Sign them first thing tomorrow.”
No tears. No raised voice. No trembling. Just calm finality, and that unsettles him more than anger ever could.
“I’m not letting that happen. You’re my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” she corrects softly.
Before he can react, Fatima pushes her chair back and stands. She doesn’t storm off or slam anything. She simply picks up a magazine from the table and walks out with quiet, controlled steps, far too composed for a woman ending a six-year marriage. And that hits him harder than any shouting would have.
No tears. No pleading. No hesitation. Nothing. It wounds his pride. He deserves tears. “Hold on,” he snaps, rising quickly from his seat.