's
o come back to me," I say, my voice steady even thoug
alks further into the living room, th
sort of joke. "Whatever this little act is, it's
"That room hasn't been 'ours' for nearly two yea
runs a hand through his hair, frustra
think I'm letting you walk out of here..." He pauses, eyes d
of my suitcase, trying to pull it fro
. "We can part amicably. It do
years? When you spent my money like water, lounging around the house whil
ords sting more
manage weakly. "You
up the stairs. "We are married, Eva. And tha
ircase and blocking his way with trembli
You don't even respect me. You don't respect
married to you." His tone is f
hit me l
g the final thread that held
sn't l
anym
hisper, "I can't stay in a
o have to try,
the words out. "We're over. We
"You're really g
roat closes. The words tangle with my tears. "You changed afte
face, then his expression chan
he says. "This
d, s
nd, scrawls his signature across the page, and slams the
hey slip. My hands shake so
of my suitcases down the stairs. It c
ls. "Drop your car keys. I don
at him
ding with mine. I stumble, clutchi
n't loo
behind him, rat
ills the house
ble. I sink to the floor, clutching my che
erased with a single outburst. Ten years of sacr
o husband.
ying at the bottom of the stairs. The divor
wipe my face, an
ding ring. For a moment, I just stand there, staring
, but I don't c
that used to be filled with laug
-
a'am. The car
oice pulls me b
what she just said. "That c
, her expression ti
scapes me. "Alrig
akes her head.
t. I can feel the eyes o
must be a bank issue. My accou
ss into a thin, skepti
rips with
or any loose cash. "How much for just
Of all things, I suddenly wanted popcorn. Maybe because it was si
sorry, ma'am, but I'll
s. "I just said I'll pay.
e interrupts, glanc
y words shaking. "It's been a lon
undred d
tight smil
mbling as I pull out useless receipts
ye, I see her pick up the
ecurity," I plead. "I
e replies curtly. "
ar beside me, both
" one of them say
," I whisper, but th
ward the exit. My hair falls forward, hiding my
r voice cuts th
va
dy fr
y, turning toward th
ross his face. He strides quickly towar
says firmly. "
sure?" one of
"Yes. Rel
p back, and su
s his arms, and I collapse against his chest, g
stroking my hair. "It's alright
froze my accounts, Micah. I
tenses.
name makes me fli
arken. "Why wo
ing at my wet cheek
, lifting it up. His gaze
your ri
/1/101333/coverbig.jpg?v=cb7cd928ef844766aa62e7ed43c93b72&imageMogr2/format/webp)