The other side of the divorce papers

To anyone looking in from the outside, Emily's life appeared enviable. She was married to Jordan Porter, a software engineer with a calm demeanor and a stable income. They lived

once felt electric now merely habitual. Jordan had grown quieter, less interested in the routine updates of her day. Emily had br

glimpse of her reflection in the glossy microwave door. H

-

ld, the undercurrents of somethi

his laptop, his briefcase. He used to leave them lying around freely, but now, he carried

d, snatching it before she co

startled. "

id, voice tight. "R

ike that before-not with tha

stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together the man who had once traced co

-

. Some nights, he didn't come home at all. Lena would sit in the living room, the glow from

it wasn't just lateness. It was the smell of perfume on his shirts that wasn't hers. It was the recei

ing like alcohol and something sweet and unfamili

ou been?" she

yan said, alread

wer your phone.

d to report

!" she snapped

narrowing. "My barren

ap. Lena staggered back,

d you ju

ed with venom. "Three tries. Three

mouth, as if that could contain the

an.

ought he might apologize. But instead, his

of the s

the edge of the couch. She didn't cry. She d

reathing heavy. Then, without a w

-

pick her wedding dress. Emily who had held her hand after her second miscarriage. And

mily said during their coffee

smile. "Just tired.

d. "You sure

tell her. She wanted to scre

e changed t

s Jor

altered for just a s

coffee, the silence thi

-

study, tapping away on his laptop.

to talk,"

m b

ser

ed up, eyes coo

t what you said

. This isn't working. It hasn't worked for a long

think cheating

ing about cheat

t stupi

n't de

last of her

she heard the front do

-

s later,

name typed neatly on the front. At first, she thought it was work-

ce pa

ough the pages. His signature alre

planation. Jus

, the pages scatterin

illed their home for months turned int

s wasn't just the

ing of a storm sh