Thirty-Eight Divorces, One Betrayal

It's also the day my husband, Ethan, as

her car on our wedding day, leaving her unable to have children. Eve

ce and remarriage. But this time was differe

d promised me justice. He

ity footage of the incident had been mysteri

s her men tore at my clothes in the b

ected

as I ran for my life, bleeding o

e would be no 3

, I would

pte

fifth wedding

day I met him, with sharp eyes and a straight nose. But the words

get a d

feel sad. I just look at him

is is our 38th

ess crosses his eye

e says, his voice low. "She says she won't come dow

off. "Hm

. I've known through thir

this one last?" I

ted tears or screaming. He never g

mises. He reaches out to touch my shoulder, then his ha

t in his eyes, and I suddenly find

"After all, we

se staff kno

er glasses up her nose. She pulls out the familiar form

icable divor

ake the pen

against the paper, a sharp, decisive sound. He has d

er the paper. I feel a brief pause i

the 38

cried my eyes out.

I asked him, "W

rth... a blur of p

here and laugh with Martha. "Please

name, Aurora Kemp. This time, I write it with

ot on a roof, but right there on the cour

and throws hersel

d choose me! I knew

ulder at me, his eyes filled with something I

push her away. "Ile

ely. She snatches the divorce papers from his

He's mine now. He

d. I just watch t

ice is sharp with a

nd she starts to sob against his chest. "I'm sorry, E

, a malicious glint i

ora? To celebrate our ne

f apology. He' s asking me with his eyes

't understand myse

ning against Ethan, her hand resting possessively o

watch him grip the steering wheel, his knuckles w

se. That has been his respons

s streaking down the glass like tea

ago. Our

as the promising artist. We fell in love fast and hard. He was so gentle back then. He would hold my

childhood friend. The girl who was obsessivel

would say, brushing off my concerns.

ieved

in my white dress, his phone bu

knot of unease tightening in my st

silenced his phone. It was the be

ere saying our vows, Ilene, drunk and hysteri

dy was broken. The doctors told us she

e felt responsible because

ormed. A debt he felt he, and

not. She was diagnosed with severe anxiety and dep

she would have a breakdown. A

me, Ethan wo

her demands. And her biggest demand

he held me as I cried and p

n, she would come to us, crying and apologizing

cycle wou

re

-eight

ss that settled into my soul. My paintbrushes gather

ll handsome, still the man I fell in love with. But he' s al

et her sit in my seat. He' s ta

d and clear, fo

t time. There will b

one and send a t

m and D

st instantly. [

in an hour. W

him. For good this time. I want to mo

ng of worried emojis. My fa

re for you

cheek. I quickly wipe it away. I have cried en

tting next to Ethan, clinging to his arm like a chil

don't you? After everyt

k for her, pours her wine. People at other tables look

isible. A

t slips, and a small sketchbook fal

it. Her f

ou trying to show off? Trying to

oss the table,

bowl of hot soup in front of her