An Iced Decaf Coffee

My husband, Jared Cooper, was a university professor.

He was reserved but honest, with a gentle temperament.

On my way to pick him up from work, I felt thirsty and asked him to order me a coffee.

When I got it, it was an iced decaf coffee.

I didn't take a sip and tossed it into the trash can in his office. "Jared, I want a divorce."

He froze, his face full of confusion. "What?"

His new doctoral student, Diana Riley, stepped in to smooth things over. "It's just a coffee. If you don't like it, don't drink it. No need to make a big deal, Mrs. Cooper."

Jared frowned. "Kathy, if you don't like it, just buy another one. Why throw a fit?"

I turned and walked away. "I'll bring you the divorce papers tomorrow."

...

I glanced back, but Jared didn't follow.

Diana cautiously poked his arm. "Professor Cooper, she's upset. Aren't you going to comfort her?"

Jared let out a cold huff, his voice laced with irritation. "It's just a coffee. Who knows what flavor she likes? She's always like this. It's not the first time she's brought up divorce. She'll get over it."

A faint smile played on Diana's lips as she inched closer to Jared.

Their clothes fluttered in the breeze, brushing against each other.

Diana's hair fell out of place, and Jared instinctively tucked it behind her ear.

Their ears flushed red.

They stood close, like lovers, neither pulling away.

I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer friend Claire Winston. "A few days ago, a company in Crestwood invited me to lead a team. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

She paused for a few seconds, her voice full of shock. "You talked it over with Jared? You're okay with a long-distance relationship?"

I shrugged, a bitter smile on my face. "It's not long-distance. I asked for a divorce. Can you help me draft the papers?"

She hesitated, then sighed deeply. "Even a perfect couple like you can't survive long years?"

Jared and I were once the gold standard of campus sweethearts.

We fell in love in freshman year, got married right after graduation, and had been together for seven years.

I knew him well enough.

He never drank coffee, and when we ate out, he always stuck with the default menu options.