Aspen, Colorado
1387 Words
THE very next morning, the cheerful chirping of birds and the distant sound of bells ringing outside failed to brighten the somber atmosphere in the house. The Christmas cheer that once filled their home seemed to have evaporated, replaced by a chilling silence.
Jasmine woke up feeling drained, her heart heavy. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the window where sunlight filtered through the curtains. Collins, on the other side of the room, had already been awake, lying still with his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Neither of them exchanged morning pleasantries. The unspoken tension between them lingered like a cloud. Jasmine finally stood, walked over to the dresser, and picked up the brown envelope. She turned to face Collins, holding the envelope and a pen in her hands.
“Here,” she said quietly but firmly, extending them toward him.
He sat up slowly, his face etched with exhaustion.
“Jasmine, we don’t have to do this. Not like this.”
She shook her head.
“We have already talked about it, Collins. It is time. Please, just sign.”
Collins hesitated, his gaze dropping to the envelope in her hands.
“You are really serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest.
He sighed deeply and took the envelope and pen from her. Placing the envelope on his lap, he glanced up at her.
“Fine. But before I sign, we need to settle something.”
“What?” She asked, her tone wary.
“What do you want from me?” He asked, his voice laced with frustration. “Money? Property? What are you asking for aside from child support for Karissa?”
Jasmine crossed her arms, her face calm but resolute.
“Nothing.”
He blinked, stunned.
“Nothing? Jasmine, how are you going to survive? You don’t have a stable job. You don’t have any savings. What is your plan?”
She rolled her eyes.
“That is my concern, not yours,” she said evenly. “This isn’t about money, Collins. I don’t want anything from you. I just want out.”
He stared at her, struggling to process her words.
“You can’t be serious. What kind of life are you planning to build with nothing? How can you be so… reckless?”
“I will figure it out,” she replied, her voice soft but unwavering. “I don’t need anything from you. I just need my freedom.”
Collins leaned back against the headboard, running a hand through his hair. He let out a bitter laugh.
“Unbelievable. You are walking away from everything we have built together, from every single thing I have worked for, and you don’t even want a penny? I don’t get it.”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.
“You don’t have to get it, Collins. You just have to sign.”
For a long moment, he didn’t move. The pen rested loosely in his fingers, hovering over the papers. Then, with a resigned sigh, he pressed the pen to the first page and began signing.
Each stroke of the pen felt like a dagger, cutting away the life they once shared. Jasmine watched in silence, her emotions a mixture of relief and sorrow.
When he finished, Collins placed the papers back in the envelope and handed them to her.
“There. You got what you wanted.”
Jasmine took the envelope, clutching it tightly.
“Thank you,” she said softly, though her voice wavered.
He stood abruptly, walking towards the door.
“I hope you know what you are doing, Jasmine. Because I sure as hell don’t.”
With that, he left the room, leaving Jasmine alone with the signed divorce papers. She sat down on the bed, staring at the envelope in her lap. The weight of her decision settled on her shoulders, and for the upteenth time, she again didn't feel the magnitude of what she had done.
The marriage was over.
🗓️A Few Weeks Later🗓️
The airport buzzed with activity, a mix of hurried travelers dragging suitcases, announcements echoing through the halls, and the hum of holiday cheer in the air. Jasmine clutched Karissa's tiny hand as they made their way towards the departure lounge. Her carry-on bag hung loosely over her shoulder as she rowed along her pink coloured travel box. This was just few of her belongings, she planned to come take the rest once she has settled.
“Mommy, why are we traveling on Christmas?” Karissa asked, looking up at her mother with curious eyes.
“We just need a change of scenery,” Jasmine replied, her tone clipped but gentle.
Karissa frowned, tugging on her mother’s hand.
“Scenery? What is scenery?”
Jasmine sighed, kneeling down to her daughter’s level.
“It means we are going somewhere different. Somewhere new. You will like Aspen, it is snowy and beautiful.”
“Like the movies?” Karissa’s face lit up with excitement.
“Yes, like the movies, and you know what?” Jasmine said, managing a small smile.
“What?” The little girl's face lit up.
“Grandma and grandpa are there.”
“Yuppie!” She shot a hand in the air.
As they reached the departure lounge, Karissa pulled at her mother's coat.
“Will Daddy come later?”
Jasmine stiffened, her grip on the carry-on tightening.
“No, baby. Daddy is not coming,” she said curtly.
“Why not?” Karissa pressed, her voice laced with confusion.
“Karissa, enough questions,” Jasmine said, her voice firm. She stood and guided her daughter toward an empty row of seats by the large glass windows overlooking the tarmac.
Karissa climbed onto one of the chairs, swinging her legs back and forth. She leaned her forehead against the glass, watching as planes taxied and took off.
Jasmine sank into the seat beside her, pulling out her phone. She scrolled absentmindedly through emails and texts, her mind a whirl of emotions. This wasn’t how she had envisioned Christmas, leaving her marriage behind, embarking on a journey back to her little hometown, and trying to create a new life for herself and her daughter.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Karissa’s excited gasp.
“Look, Mommy! That plane is so big!”
Jasmine glanced up, her eyes following her daughter’s finger.
“Yes, it is,” she said, her voice soft.
“Is that our plane?”
“No, not yet,” Jasmine replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
A man seated across from them glanced over, a friendly smile on his face. He held a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
“Traveling for the holidays?” he asked casually.
Jasmine hesitated before nodding.
“Yes.”
“Aspen is beautiful this time of year,” the man continued, folding his newspaper. “I’m sure you and your daughter will have a wonderful time.”
Jasmine managed a polite smile.
“Thank you.”
Karissa, ever curious, turned to the man.
“Do you like snow?”
He chuckled.
“I do. Do you?”
“I don’t know. I have never seen much of it before,” Karissa replied, her tone serious.
“Well, you are in for a treat,” the man said, winking.
Jasmine gently tugged on Karissa’s arm, steering her attention back.
“Karissa, let’s not bother the nice man.”
“You are not bothering me,” the man assured, but Jasmine gave him a tight smile and turned back to her phone.
A voice crackled over the intercom, announcing the boarding call for their flight. Jasmine stood, grabbing her bags and Karissa’s hand.
“Is it time to go?” Karissa asked eagerly.
“Yes, it is time,” Jasmine replied, her tone softening.
As they joined the line to board, Jasmine took a deep breath. Leaving wasn’t easy, but she reminded herself that this was a fresh start, a chance to rebuild, to find peace, and to give her daughter a future free of the tensions they had left behind.
The snowy peaks of Aspen awaited, promising a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of her fractured life.
- Writer
