As the sun rays touched my face through the curtains, I woke up and saw the calendar. Today is our third anniversary, but my husband Kyle is on a business trip. But the party is all arranged, as he is coming back in the evening for the party.

Oh, you must be wanting to know who I am; well, my name is Jessica Walters. My husband's name is Kyle Walters. For us, it was love at first sight, and we got married soon after we met. You can say it was a flash marriage, as we didn't even have time to let any of our friends know. We just got our certificate and have been planning to save so we can have a grand wedding one day.

Seeing the time, I quickly got up to take a bath and got ready. I was combing my hair when the doorbell rang. As I open the door, Patricia and Sandy smile with bright smiles. And Sandy says, "What, you're still combing your hair, girly? When are we going to the caterer?"

Sandy is my childhood friend. She's been through thick and thin with me, and I love her no less. As for Patricia, we went to the same college, and now she's my chief designer.

A bright smile spreads on my face. "Oh, I got a little late, but see, haven't you come?"

Sandy smiles and says, "Jessica, when is Kyle coming? The sun is on our heads."

"Oh, he'll come in time for the party. Don't worry; I spoke to him in the morning. Oh, have the chocolates arrived? Patricia, I gave your address in a hurry."

Patricia comes from the kitchen with juice glasses and says, "Jessica, what's with the chocolates?" You've been asking non-stop."

"Oh, they're his favorite. I want to surprise him. You know I booked them five months ago."

Surprised on hearing this, Sandy says, "What? They are chocolates, right?"

"Yes, but all the way from London." As I say this, I go towards the door as the bell rings. As I open the door, the caterer says, "Hello, Mrs. Walter, I came to take the groceries for the party."

I gesture for them to come in, and as I go towards the kitchen, I say, "There, under that drawer. It's as according to the list, "In case you need more or anything is missing, you can tell Phill, you have his number, right?"

One of the caterers says, "Yes, ma'am."

As they leave, Patricia says, "Jessica, we'd better go to the shop; your dress must be ready."

Sandy also says with a gleaming smile, "Yes, I so badly want to see you in a wedding gown. But it's OK; a long dress will do for now."

The Party Venue

Though I was reluctant, the girls wouldn't listen. Finally, after getting ready, we arrived at the party venue. I go about making sure everything is just perfect. Even though it was our third anniversary, it was special, and I didn't want any flaws. As I was setting the flowers, Sandy came over and told me to get ready as everything was in place and the guests had begun to arrive.

So I went to the ladies room and fixed my hair, touched my makeup, and came back. Then, with a big smile, I began to welcome the guests. As the party progressed, I kept entertaining the guests by playing some music and some light games.

But as the night progressed, the guests began to become restless as Kyle had not arrived. So, I decided to cut the small cake and told the caterer to serve the dinner. Slowly, one by one, the guests began to leave, and only our close friends were left.

As I was playing with the cake on my plate, Derak came over and said, "Jessica, the project is very important, or else he wouldn't have been delayed on such an important day. You know he loves you."

Derak is Kyle's close friend. They've known each other for more than a decade.

Sandy didn't let him complete his sentence and said, "Hey, if you're his close friend, I'm her childhood friend. He should have booked an earlier flight."

Derak smiles and says, "Sandy, that's one thing he can never do. Come on, you've also known him for three years now; when has he ever been on time?" He leans over and whispers, "You know, he was born also four hours after the given time."

Realizing it's getting late, Patricia also decides to leave.

"Sandy, you should also go; it's getting late."

"No, how can I leave you like this?" It's clear from her face; she isn't happy with Kyle being late, but she can't do anything.

So, to make her leave, I tell her Derak is here with me. Finally, she agrees and leaves.

As she leaves, Derek says, "Jessica, let me drop you home. No one is left; the staff has also gone."

But I don't want to, as he said he was coming. "Jessica, you're my sister-in-law. Please, let's go home."

I sigh and tell him to leave, as I know he will come. Though he's reluctant to leave, he leaves as his mother is alone, so he cannot delay more than he already has.

As he leaves, I sit all alone in front of my three tier cake with the dim lights waiting for Kyle. Then, like a prince descending from heaven, I suddenly saw him coming towards me. Naturally, I was gleaming happily as he came forward. I quickly got on my feet to greet him, but before I could say anything, he said, "Happy anniversary. Being with you is probably the best time of my life. And, after what I'm going to do, you will hate me for the rest of your life, and I deserve it. Sorry." He hands me some papers and says, "I have already signed them. Let's part happily, so please sign them. You can fill any amount of alimony you want. I will fulfill it."

The word 'divorce agreement' was no less than a bullet for me that shot straight into my eyes. I felt like thousands of thunderbolts hit me. The pain in my heart was excruciating. Though I was not bleeding, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart. My whole body went numb. It was like I didn't have any nerves in my body. I don't know how my hands moved, but I placed the papers on the table and took a look at the three tier wedding cake in front of me and signed with 'zero' in alimony.

As I handed him the papers, he looked and said, "Jessica, at least write about the investment."

I sigh as I try my best to hold back the tears building in my eyes. "Kyle, the investment was and is for my husband. To ask it or not, is only my ability, no one else's."

As I pick my purse, he says, "I'll come tomorrow for my stuff."

I don't even look back at him and say, "Don't bother; I'll pack it and send it over to Derak's. You can collect it from there."

Going back home

I walk off, leaving Kyle standing there all alone, and I get in my car. I begin to wonder where our relationship went wrong. How our third anniversary became our divorce day. It just didn't make any sense.

As I drove, I kept wiping the tears that rolled down my cheeks, recalling the happy moments we shared only a day ago. He was clearly planning the anniversary with me, and I never felt any distance in his voice. Then what happened so suddenly? In a matter of hours, everything changed.

Suddenly, I get a notification on my phone; seeing it, my eyes widen in shock. He sent me a text message saying, 'As soon as he has time, he'll come with me to get the certificate. Till then, please wait.'

Just then I got a call from his secretary. On receiving the call, she says, "Hello, Mrs. Walter, Mr. Walter has arranged a special gift for you. We'll have it delivered tomorrow. And happy anniversary, ma'am. Have a nice day."

As the call got disconnected, I didn't know how to react. My so-called husband just told me he doesn't have time to get the certificate, and his secretary is telling me, my husband arranged a special gift for me. I couldn't make out if I was in a time machine and the call I just got now was supposed to come to me sooner as the previous call was from the husband who just divorced me.

I scoffed at hearing 'happy wedding anniversary' and banged with my hands on the steering wheel.

Slamming the car door, I enter my home and throw my purse on the sofa. "Gosh, why do I feel so odd? It's not the first time he's not home; why does it sound so creepy? Better go to sleep before I lose my mind."

As I entered my room to sleep, his call came again. As I took the call, he says, "Hi, Jessy, I'll come to take my stuff."

I was so angry, I slammed at him and said, "Don't bother; I'll send it to you. Send your address to Derak."

I didn't even bother to let him say anything and disconnected the call.

"Ahh, why can't I sleep? Damn you, Kyle, I hope you never sleep." Getting frustrated, I decided to try the guest room. And, finally, I managed to have a peaceful sleep.

My first morning without Kyle

Today, the morning was bright yet dull. As I rampaged through our stuff to pack his, I came across our wedding album. I never thought at that time I would see this day in my life. After packing his stuff, I called Derak, "Hello, Derak, good morning. Can you come over and pick up Kyle's stuff?"

Derak is confused and says, "Kyle's stuff? What stuff?"

I humph and say, "What? He didn't tell you? Great, so he wants me to give the good news. OK, then, he came yesterday at the party with duly signed divorce papers. So, I signed them as well."

Derak is shocked and says, "What? But what happened?"

"Derak, the only thing your friend said was, 'He knows I'll hate him for the rest of my life, and after signing, I left him standing in the hall, alone."

Derak says shocked, "What? But, OK, give me ten minutes. I'm coming."

As the call got disconnected, I began to speak to myself, 'Hey, wait a minute; he didn't ask me anything, and he didn't support him. Does he already know? But then why was he surprised when I told him to come for his stuff? Or is the divorce sudden, but he knows he's leaving me.'

After packing the last bag, I went to the kitchen and made some breakfast for myself. As I was eating my pancakes, the doorbell rang. Thinking it must be Derak, I opened the door and said, "You took time."

It was Sandy, my childhood friend. With her brown eyes and blonde curly hair, she is a cute and caring person.

Sandy gets confused upon hearing me and says, "What? How did you know I was coming over?"

"Oh, sorry, I thought it was Derak."

"Hey, I'm out as well." Derak says as I was going to close the door. Seeing him, I say, "Oh, sorry, I didn't see you. Come on in."

As Derak comes in, seeing Sandy, he says, "Morning."

I was afraid he'd tell about the divorce, as one thing that Sandy doesn't like in our friendship is being told last. "Sandy, Kyle came back and divorced me. I told him I'd send his stuff to Derak's. I'm really not in the mood to see him now, so I called Derak in the night and told him. I just woke up, and I haven't even had my breakfast yet. And."

I don't know why, but I began to cry.

"Hey, baby, it's alright. Come here." Sandy takes me to sit on the sofa as Derak gets angry and dials Kyle's number. As Kyle receives the call, he says in an angry tone, "Damn, Kyle, what in the hell are you doing? Divorce? Like, for real. Kyle, how can you go on a business trip and come back on your damn wedding anniversary and hand in the divorce papers?"

Kyle sighs on the phone and says, "I did what I was supposed to do. Derak, I don't deserve her."

Derak retorts, saying, "You don't deserve her? It took you to three years of marriage to realize you don't deserve her. Kyle, what she doesn't deserve is what you did to her. Damn you, I don't have a friend like you."

As he disconnects the call, he comes over to me and sits beside me. "Jessica, though you were my sister-in-law, from now on I'm your brother. I have no connection with him anymore. I just want to ask you, "Did you sign in anger or?"

Wiping my tears, "I was angry, but I was in my senses. Derak, he came with signed papers. (sniffing) He had already planned them. You know why I was angry; he should have told me when he decided and not have me waiting at the anniversary and come hand me the papers like this. There's no way I can reconcile with him."

Derak sighs and says, "No, I'm not telling or asking you to reconcile. I just wanted to know if you are certain of your step. OK, then I'll find out the next steps to get the certificate."

As Derak gets up, "Derak, I want the certificate soon. I don't want to spend my time slugging with him."

Derak nods and says, "Don't worry, I won't let him. Sandy, please take care of her for me."

Just then Derak gets a call and he says in a shocked tone, "What? Jessica, I have to take my leave. I'll be back soon. Sandy, remember what I said."