Chapter 3
267 Words
The weekend felt… different.
The kids kept asking about Tomáš.
“Where’s dad?”
“When is he coming back?”
I sat down with them.
“Dad won’t be living with us anymore,” I said gently.
“But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
Adam shrugged.
“At least it’ll be quiet now.”
I froze.
“He won’t yell… or hit Max,” he added softly.
My throat tightened.
I pulled them both into a hug.
“I love you. Both of you.”
That afternoon, we went to the park.
Adam on his bike, Max on his scooter, me on rollerblades.
For the first time in a long while… peace.
We sat down.
I finally opened the message.
“It wasn’t a mistake. You’re free now. I’m sorry… but I had to.”
I held my breath.
It really happened.
“Mom, can we go home?” Adam asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
We turned—
And there he was.
“Thought that was you,” he smiled.
“Fresh air?” I asked.
“Yeah… and finally some time together,” a woman’s voice said.
I froze.
His wife.
Of course.
“Peter’s been a courier for years,” she smiled.
Peter.
That’s his name.
He looked at me briefly.
I just nodded.
“Take care,” I said, and walked away.
“Mom, who was that?”
“Just a courier.”
Just?
At home, there was a note.
Tomáš.
He took the package.
And left papers.
Divorce.
I sat down.
Read them.
Signed.
No tears.
Just exhaustion.
- Writer
