Until She Left Novels & Stories

After my wife married and divorced me ten times, she signed a Love Insurance policy with me. "Ethan, I know I'm putting off the remarriage a little longer this time. So I'm signing this with you first. Think of it as my guarantee to you." Not long after, she wanted to terminate our policy so she could go marry the man she'd never gotten over. "Julian doesn't have long. His last wish is to marry me. I can't take that away from a dying man." What she didn't know was that the policy had a clause in it. If it was terminated before it matured, I'd be taken away by a private organization, and the two of us would never see each other again.

ugh. When he left, she leaned against the door, looking pale and relieved. I pursed my lips in disappointment, turned around and said, "Strawberry," as I climbed the stairs.

Never was. Around me, the apartment felt stripped bare, as if her leaving had taken even the air with her. Somehow, she had put my name on the lease and removed hers. Could she even do that without me knowing? I'd have to contact the landlord. "Fuck!" I pressed my hands over my face, but it didn't stop the truth from sinking in. Layla, stability, the life we'd built. I'd given up everything for a woman who had just walked out without looking back.

"I… I just need a little more time. I’ll be leaving soon." She studied me, eyes unreadable. "This is exactly what you said In the morning, it's almost 9 pm. Please you should leave." Something inside me cracked at her words. Why the hell was she still reminding me of that? "I said I’ll leave soon," I muttered, my tone sharper than I intended. Her lips pressed into a line. She gave a small nod, tapped something on the tablet in her hands, and turned for the door. "Please do," she mumbled and made her way out.

she assured me. My face brightened as I listened to her assurance. I was never going to be the problem, all I prayed for was for her to get the chance so that we would go. Silly me -- just a few hours ago, I tried to leave this place without even bearing a place in mind and now I'm realizing how I would miss out on something so fun as a night party -- silly you, Tania. I escorted her to the door and bade her well(at least for the meantime) and she left.

I needed to leave, and something told me that if I waited until morning like she's been saying, that it'll be too late. ~~~

The look of someone whose wait is over. She picked up her things from the bench by the door. No hurry in it. The unhurried movement of someone who had finished what they came to do. “Four days ago,” she said, “I wasn’t certain you’d be ready.” She looked at me for one more moment. “I am now.” She left.

"And every time you stay in this palace when leaving would be easier." I was quiet for a moment. "I was never going to leave," I said. "I know," she said. She said it the way she said most things — simply, without decoration. As though it was a fact she had known for considerably longer than I had known it myself. Which, I was beginning to understand, was probably true. --- She left before the rain came. I stayed.

, she simply. I was quiet for a few seconds then she spoke again. “I had to tell you this in person so make my hard work count. Leave” I wanted to say something but she opened the door and left immediately. Leave? Why?

She already knew I couldn't stop being this way until she learned to behave accordingly. I walked away and when I reached the door, I locked the door behind me.