The Divorce She Demanded

hysical blow, the same words that h

ut that Chi

heir small Montana kitchen, his National Gu

t. The exa

he wasn't just rememb

bo

ed paint on the windowsill, Mark's hes

school, a history department head, back in h

d her the opportunity, *her* opportunity, had t

own the road, always need

y, a weak protest swallowed by Mark's insis

t, Sarah. Jessica

nce had cost h

ontana town, her ambitions gatheri

volving around his unit and, increasi

had been a

n she was worn down and empt

voice devoid of emotion, already l

was a raw,

, the script

at him. The man she had loved, the m

licker of impatience in h

k a slo

Sarah said, her voice surprisingly calm, level

ting the words

ng the Ch

le

tight. Then, a flus

d you ju

taking the

ca's been through? David's only been gone three years. She

old, famili

cherish her, was once again prioritizi

ss, but it was distant now, ove

. This was before his "growth," before

aid, his voice tight with anger. "She's

is keys from

s later, when you're

he screen door sl

e Jessica, ju

atched

tly. It was born of a deep, misguided sense

ad completely overshado

his surrogate family, and

here would b

o the phone, h

for Northwood Magnet H

ller. I'm calling to formally accept the

ed up, a woman specializing in family law.

erences," she would

e that evening, hi

in the living

he demanded, not even bothering with a

losed h

e said. "And I've also file

ked. "Y

d for d

arsh laugh. "You're b

r voice even. "I cited ir

of disbelief and anger. He clearly th

rly winter blizzard

ows. Sarah had always been terrifi

the base. "Looks nast

oked," she

already distant. "Just to make sure she and Leo are alrig

hing, he added, "I'll che

n't ch

t Jessica's

house groaning around her, the

liar ache, th

w had stopped, leaving a thick

ill was

dy for work,

re she taught, she saw Mark's truck

ssenger seat, laughin

er teaching job at the

cly.

the town

league, Mary Beth, cau

ry Beth said, her voice laced with a knowing sympathy

st smile

saw it, whispered about it. Mark, the devoted family man, and Sarah, the difficult