The Fifth Wheel In My Own Relationship

Chapter 2

When I opened the door to the home we'd prepared for our marriage, it was pitch-black inside.

I left the main lights off and switched on a small wall lamp in the entryway.

Jimmy had bought the apartment outright, but I'd personally handled every detail of the renovation.

From the color of the living room sofa to the potted plants on the balcony, I'd poured my heart into all of it.

I'd once thought this was where we would build our future together.

I walked to the coffee table and picked up the wedding plan our planners had delivered just yesterday.

I opened it to the first page. The color scheme centered on champagne-colored roses.

Monica had casually remarked that red roses were tacky and champagne was much classier. Jimmy had immediately vetoed the red rose theme I'd wanted for 3 years.

"Fi, you only get married once. Listen to Monica. She's always had good taste." That was what he'd said, with absolute conviction, as though Monica were the bride.

I closed the plan and tossed it into the trash beside me.

Then I went into the bedroom and pulled a black suitcase out from under the bed.

I opened the wardrobe and began methodically packing my clothes.

I didn't smash things in a fit of hysteria or cut his clothes to shreds.

I took only what was mine. I didn't touch anything he'd bought for me, or any of the gifts he'd picked out on a whim to placate me.

Halfway through packing, I heard the keypad lock at the front door beep and release. Then the door opened.

Jimmy's footsteps sounded in the living room, followed by a slightly weary sigh.

"Fiona, are you asleep?" When I didn't answer, he came straight to the bedroom.

He pushed the door open and saw the suitcase on the floor and the sweaters in my hands.

He stopped in his tracks, his brows drawing together at once.

"What are you doing now?" He leaned against the doorframe, sounding thoroughly impatient. "Packing in the middle of the night? Are you running away from home?"

I folded the sweaters and laid them neatly in the suitcase.

"There's an opening for a 6-month assignment at one of our company's branches. I applied."

It was the truth.

When my supervisor had asked me the previous week, I'd hesitated, then declined because I hadn't wanted to leave Jimmy.

But in the taxi, I'd already messaged my supervisor to confirm that I would take the assignment.

Jimmy looked startled, then gave a derisive laugh.

"Fiona, at least come up with a believable lie." He walked over and looked down at me. "We're getting married next month, and now you're telling me you're going away for 6 months?"

"Let's cancel the wedding." I zipped up the suitcase, stood, and met his eyes calmly.

Jimmy's expression shifted slightly, but his usual arrogant certainty soon returned.

He thought I was still angry about dinner, and that this was just another way of forcing him to give in.

"All right, stop it." He sighed and reached for my arm. "Tonight was my fault. I shouldn't have called you a baby in front of them." He took a velvet box out of his pocket and held it out to me. "Monica picked this. She said it'd look beautiful on you. Think of it as a belated birthday present. Don't be mad anymore."

I looked at the box but didn't take it.

Monica had posted jewelry from this brand on her social media feed.

The previous week, she'd written a post: I can't decide. Which of these two necklaces looks better?

The attached picture showed two necklaces, one with a star pendant and the other with a moon pendant.

Jimmy had left a comment beneath it.

Jimmy: The star pendant looks better against your collarbone.

Now he was giving me the moon pendant Monica had rejected as a birthday present.

"I don't like moons," I said flatly.

Jimmy seemed to run out of patience. He slapped the box down hard on the vanity beside us.

"Fiona, would you stop being so difficult?" His voice finally rose. "I'm exhausted from working all day, and then I have to come home and coax you out of a sulk. Monica went out of her way to pick you a present. If you can't appreciate it, fine, but who do you think you're glaring at?"

"Did she pick it for me, or was it just the one she didn't want?" I looked at him, my voice perfectly level.

Jimmy's gaze shifted uneasily, but he quickly recovered his self-righteous air.

"What are you talking about? Monica thought it would suit you. That's why she recommended it. Do you have to assume the worst of everyone?" He tugged at his tie in irritation and turned to leave. "Whatever. Pack if you want. I'd like to see where you think you can move to. We'll talk when you've calmed down."

He slammed the bedroom door behind him.

I stood there, looking at the velvet box sitting alone on the vanity.

Then I walked over, picked it up, and dropped it straight into the wastebasket in the corner. With it, I threw away 5 years of love, once and for all.