A Thin Line Between Love And Hate: Ex-Husband's Regrets

vi

flies in her belly felt like

he room was the sof

ows across the table set for two. Alina sat alone at the dinne

candle burning low. One

lass stood

edge of the dining table, still in the red dr

as late

meant a lot to them, it seems it

zed, and her

in something, d

logy. No heart. No

third wedding

e was

ai

stayed fixed on the front door, as though sheer willpower could summon David

ke a hot slap across her soul

d herself. He alway

own, she a

sn't

h time in the last three minutes hop

she picked up the p

nniversa

remember if he had forgo

minutes passed

t up with a s

me woman, l tol

dam

akeup like shame. She'd spent hours trying to be beautiful for him tonight, worn th

, she was

e could save her husband'

ng it's on the same day as he

ed down as the rain

lf at the head of the table, alo

walked down an aisle believin

ss that made no difference, waiting for a man w

pty? Or had she been

.

eaked open a litt

and rimmed with dried mascara. Her heart thudded in her ches

shadow. Rain clung to his coat, but there was no

standing to meet him. "I'

't look

at the untouche

hin envelope from his coat pocket and set it on the

nked. "Wh

stepping back like the co

gers. Her heart beat louder with every second. Th

CE PE

ok. "You're d

being too dramatic. "I don'

d, because you

e casual indifference he used on their second anni

ed here, in that red dress you used to love, with your favorite wine, your favorite f

this harder tha

you for waiting until after d

We haven't been work

me anymore, you don't even look at me. Am I not beautiful enough? You sle

to you," David snapped, his calm

words stabbed deeper th

n yourself?" she repeated

r much

om wen

t cold but heat rush

hroat. Like something inside her che

ard him. "There

dn't

urse there is. Is it her? Your precious Sofia? The one you sa

nce was

coward," s

to hers, cold and sha

quiet, obeyed, smiled at everything while you ignored me. I gave every

overre

the fin

ew them back at his chest. "You don't get

igned. Just sign y

n disbelief. "You a

, heartless. "It's j

ce broke. "Did you

use.

u. But you're not her, you coul

d like he had

osed. Her heart shatter

e it

uth she had alway

oved her.

ay in that room

yelled. "And take y

id no

noth

like she was no l

ross the marble floor as she grabb

her shaking the very walls of t

.

she stepped outside, but it could

ones, but she didn't care. She needed to breathe, need

Neon lights flickered on wet pavement, and loud music throbbed from t

ctly what

emember hail

she said when the dri

lub Halo, the blur of light, soun

st the crowd. Inside, bodies moved like smoke. No one looked.

ed it too fast, then asked for another. The burn didn't stop

rink when a deep voice

ou're trying to

d slowly, g

calm, but dangerous. His presence wrapped around her like heat

am?" she said,

f a smile. "Then

studie

y. Wasn't pushy

being obeyed.

e didn't wa

nted e

rom the lies,

head. "Then h

held out

t even as

n't as

e flashing lights, past the

.

ornin

in through the

s dry. Her limbs were tangled in si

learily, sitt

sn't m

oked a

re were fresh lilies in a vase by the bed, a tray of breakfast

n... w

t skippe

?" she

le

erself in the robe, and searched th

potted her dress neatly fold

his p

shaky legs, the receptionist smi

. who paid f

he computer. "It was

lina echoed. "

am. That's all

d back, the

wa

yesterday as she was far gone but his voice, something about his voice f

even know

.

no long

e like a thief, half-hopi

he

ands in his pockets, jaw clenc

a fr

o ask me that,"

ll your

ffed, "my husband? You stoppe

"You spent the ni

dn't a

s her rebellion

closer, furious

u destroy our marriage while l

n win for

elievable,"

just finally stopped

ack, like her wo

walked past him, head high, eve

.

hinkable thi

o weeks sinc

meantit

h she was holding and

ag

est on the counter,

iti

orld

ispered. "No

er feet, staring

olled s

as pr

. They haven't been

the st

she didn

who va

embled. Her

ast thing she

k growing inside

t was

r what D

hat the wor

hand to her stom

was about

hoice. She packed everyth

signed it. After signin

that night. It was