The Echo of Abuse and Love

My hands trembled slightly as I placed the divorce papers on the table. "I want a divorce.” Taking a deep breath, I forced the words out, my voice tremble because the of anger and sadness I felt.

He didn't even look up from his phone, his thumb scrolling the screen with ease. "You know you can't do that, Nicole." His dismissal was nonchalant, having no hint of concern.

" I can't do it?" The question shot out before I could stop it, laced with a fury that burned in my gut. "Do you think I can't do it?"

Finally, he looked up, his green eyes meeting mine, but with a chilling nonchalant attitude. "We had an agreement, Nicole," he said, "One year was the deal. This is just six months."

"Yes, and guess what?" I crossed my hands over my chest, as my voice echo through the living room. "The agreement also stated grounds for early termination of agreement, and guess who's met those grounds now?" My voice trembled with barely contained emotion.

"I don't give a damn about some terms and conditions written by your greedy lawyer" he spat, his jaw tightening.

"Well, I give a damn," I countered, my voice rising. "That's why I want a damn divorce!" The final word sounded more like a declaration of war against the life we had built.

I could feel the tension in the room becoming thick with anger, it was enough to choke me. I stood in front of Nicholas, replaying all the things I've been through because of him and his Casanova lifestyle. At this point, I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"What exactly is the problem this time?" Nicholas asked, his voice dripping with false concern. It was like a switch had flipped. Was he really asking me what the problem was when he himself had been the only problem I have.

"You," I spat, my voice tight with frustration. "You are the problem! You are always the problem, Nicholas. And you will always be the problem" Each of my words were laced with venom, they are evidence of the years of the surpressed resentment bubbling up inside me.

He furrowed his brow, playing the ignorance game as usual. "Me? I don't understand what you're saying," he said, his voice smooth as butter.

That's what made it worse. His nonchalant attitude, him forming ignorance, and constantly denying it. "Don't play dumb," I snapped.

"Please, elaborate! Mrs. Nicole Jackwood," he sneered, using my name with his last name. It was a deliberate jab, a way of reminding me that I was still stuck to him legally and there was nothing I could do about it.

A surge of anger coursed through me. "Don't start with me. Don't do that," I warned, making my voice sound low and dangerous. "All these emotional blackmail tactics are enough. They won't work on me anymore."

He threw his head back and laughed, a hollow, mirthless sound. "Emotional blackmail?" He wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye. "You don't even know the meaning of what you are saying."