The Destitute Heiress

Le Divorce

“You need to leave soon so I can get started at the courthouse on signing our divorce. We cannot keep living together in the eyes of the state or they will not grant our divorce.” I take in a deep, big breath to steady my nerves.

Perhaps my tears all over the past week have prepared me for what is to come, the horror of what I’m hearing does not really phase me as badly as it should. It does not hurt as much as hearing him say he loves someone too much and wants to quickly marry her.

“You remember five years ago?” I ask, my tone hopeful. He gives me a non-commital grunt in response as though to say he doesn't care to remember.

It does not stop me from soldering on, so I say, “Remember you promised to protect me? To be my friend? You have not for one day of this marriage been any of those things, but I forgive you. I forgive you if you promise to be a better husband, move us out of this house so I can have a little more time for you alone.” My words have not even finished when he rubs his face in exasperation as though I'm asking for him to hang the moon for me.

“Carina, I cannot do those things for you anymore, I mentally checked out of this marriage a while ago. My promises don’t mean anything anymore, Carina, I need you to get that into your head.” He says with a tone of finality that has me reeling. His decision must have come from a place of meeting with his parents, they must have mulled it over while I cleaned their house like a cleaning woman.

“When can we begin the procedure, Carina? I need to get back to Carol with some news, I don’t want to lose her. I’m sure you have something you need to do with your life, I’m sure you too have something you want so much. Marrying Carol is that thing for me and you’re standing in my way.” I have no idea what to say to that so I step away from him and walk into the closet to get the rest of my things, I see my clothes, most of them I sewed by hand lumped together on the floor in the space that once served as our closet.

Anger roils through me and I rush back to the bedroom, he is letting his towel slide off his body as he pulls on a pair of briefs and I realise for the first time in a long while that I’m no longer attracted to my husband. I inhale, exhale and return to fold my clothes gently, put them in a bag and get ready to leave.

I do not intend to sleep another night in this house, with how detached he’s speaking about me, he might kill me before morning if I keep staying here. I sigh with a sad prodding of my heart as I zip up a carryon bag I won during a raffle draw at Target, bearing an emblazoned image of the chocolate company that gifted me the bag.

I return to the closet and pat around the floor of the closet until I can feel the cards I had hidden there. Over the past year, I have won several dollars worth of gift cards and coupons at Target, at the tailoring merchandise store and at Costco. Those cards could help me start my life though I have no inkling or knowledge of where I’ll be laying my head tonight.

“You don’t have to leave tonight, who is going to prepare dinner?” I chuckle as I pull on my weather-beaten jacket. It’s a cold day outside, I might be leaving, but I won’t be stupid.

“You should call your Carol or finally for the first time in your life, lift a finger in that kitchen. Or wait? You don’t even know where the knives are.” I let out a loud laugh for myself, and the misery of the past five years. Five years of my life down the drain, just because I could not say no.

I pulled off the pandora ring he had given me outside the high school we had both gone as an engagement ring and placed them on the bed. “May we never meet again, Kevin.”

I pull my purse over my shoulder and begin to lug my bag downstairs. The pain in my shoulder is masked by the overwhelming pain in my chest. I cannot believe this is my life now, as I descend the stairs completely, I hear rushed footsteps and Kevin shouts from the top of the stairs, “I will shoot you an email about the next plans, please don’t lose your phone on purpose.” I send him a tight smile and unlock the door. I stand there with the cold air blowing in while I look around the house I had kept pristine for five years like a damn fool that I am.