Divorce Over Two-Fifty

ty cents," the ice cream vendor

yes wide with excitement as she pointed a

fingers could find my wallet, a cold vo

think you' r

his arms crossed over his expensive suit

ce cream," I said, my

ple nearby to turn and stare. "Is that from the joint account? We agreed

haming me, publicly, over two dolla

" I pleaded softly, trying

ulled out his own wallet, handed a five-dollar bill to the vendor, and then looked back at me. "Consider t

ng me and Lily standing there in humiliated silence.

life. But that afternoon, som

verheard Leo on the phone in his study. His voice, so

new place tomorrow," he was saying. "The penthouse? Don' t worry about the

a penthouse apartment. She was turning eighteen soon, and he treated her like a princess, showering her with gift

y for half of our da

he love and generosity he was capable of were real, they just weren'

udio in the corner of the house, a space that felt like my only sanctuary. I

name, his name, and the date of our mar

ading in bed. He didn't look up when I placed

he asked, his eyes

e was steady, empty of the tears

e actually laughed, a short, ugly sound. "A divorce? Don' t be ridic

t the ice cr

h. "The ice cream? You want to end our marriage over two

Groceries, utilities, even a dinner out. I was a struggling artist, and he knew it. He called it "fairness" and a way to ensure I wasn't with hi

got worse. The grand house we lived in, which he had bought before we were married, he declared was his sole expense. It was his grand gesture of

a high fever and had to be rushed to the emergency room, the bill was thousands of dollars. I asked him for help. He looked at me, his face

t was a cold, cruel business arrange

on for her was immediate and overwhelming. He indulged her every whim. While Lily battled pneu

aning against him, her head on his shoulder. It was a little too close, a little too familiar

d, looking straight at me with a triumphan

He didn't see the malice in her e

, I retreated to Lily' s room and held my sleeping chil