Thirty-Eight Divorces, One Betrayal

like a bucket of ice water, shocking me ou

n shattered into a million pieces. This f

eft to save. Nothin

hing left

these people behind me, was no longer a

ly, my body trembling not with fea

fingers flying across the

ce low and urgent. "The im

mother's voice was a soothing balm. "They said it

, a wave of relief washi

away from the house, from th

eded to go back to the house one last time to retrieve my passpo

with my key, the door was p

eyes narrowing with sus

ng sneaking aroun

d. "Are you calling the police ag

wn the stairs. He saw me

or

ene and looked at the scr

e immigration lawyer were right there.

, the phone's battery die

slightly, but his eyes wer

his voice sharp. "They already told you,

t like a slap. Don't be difficult. Let

shake. I had to lean aga

yes clear. "No. I was ju

h. What about? Is everything okay? If you need

e a source of comfort,

e eye. "Can you really hand

d's hesitation, his voice full of a

deep brea

e air. "I don't feel well. My head hurts. Yo

r head, her fac

tween us. The familiar con

ere. I'll take her to the emergency room and be right back.

pend hours, maybe days, catering to her every whi

ything. I just

hant, spiteful look over her shou

d, leaving me alone

empty space wh

me alone," I whispered to the e

t he would neve

in a blur. Ethan didn't c

flowers at the hospital. A video of him peeling an orange for her. A selfie of

The pain was gone. There was only a vas

had given me over the years and transferred the money to my paren

ay, Ethan fina

been. He just grabbed my arm

, his voice tense.

ng?" I asked, pul

eeting my eyes. "She's having a party. Sh

. The audacity of

y voice shaking. "I don't want to ha

voice rising. "Is her birthday more important t

se. Her emotions are still unstable. The doctor said we can't u

promise, after her condition is stable, we'll get re

promises. The s

lled me out the door and into his car, a