THE WIFE YOU LEFT

I browsed the men's fancy shop, my eyes hunting for the perfect gift for my husband, Zeus, because it was our first wedding anniversary.Picking up the brown shoes that grabbed my glance, a grin lit my face. The store clerk noticed I was thrilled. “I think these are the ones you will pick?” she asked; happy that she had finally pleased me. “Yes, please.” “Then, I will package them for you?” I passed the shoes to her, “Thanks” As I waited for the clerk to wrap Zeus's gift, memories flooded my mind. We first met at a private bidding, the same day I lost my parents in a car accident. Zeus was also involved in the crash. One thing led to another, and I started working as his caregiver at his mansion. Next thing I knew, I was signing a contract for marriage with him. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Zeus was kind and respectful, way more than I deserved. Even though our marriage was just on paper, I never regretted saying yes to him. He's done so much for me, and these shoes I bought for our first anniversary don't seem like enough. "Here you go," the clerk said, handing me a bag. I grabbed the bag from her hand and smiled, “Thanks”. As I walked out of the store, I typed a quick message to Zeus: “I’ll be at the coffee shop soon”. “Relax” he replied, but I was bubbling with excitement. I got into my car and gently placed the bag on the back seat before driving off. Singing along to my favorite song, I wondered if today was the day to confess my feelings to Zeus. “You can’t be married for over a year without love,” I whispered, feeling a mix of emotions, “But what if he doesn’t feel the same? That’s my biggest fear.” _____________________ As the coffee shop came into view, COFFEE BREAK, I exhaled slowly, as if releasing the last fragile thread of tension holding me together. My hands trembled slightly as I parked, gripping the disposable bag like it was the only thing anchoring me to reality.For a moment, I just sat there.Then I stepped out.The bell above the door chimed softly as I pushed it open, the sound oddly loud against the chaos in my chest. My eyes swept the room, restless, desperate search for him. And then I found him. Zeus. He stood there, absorbed in his phone, a crease of worry cutting across his face. The sharp lines of his brown suit fit him too perfectly, his hair slicked back with effortless precision. He looked composed… untouchable.Unreal.I froze. My breath caught somewhere between my lungs and my throat as I stared, completely undone by the sight of him. For a fleeting second, the world around me faded, leaving only him in focus. It wasn’t until my phone rang that reality came crashing back. He looked up and our eyes locked. Something shifted instantly in his expression, his posture, the air between us. Within seconds, he was moving, closing the distance between us in hurried strides. “Why didn’t you tell me you were already here?” he demanded, his voice tight with worry. “I’ve been going out of my mind.” The intensity in his eyes made my heart stutter. “I—I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice softer than I intended. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if making sure I was really there. Then, more gently, he said, “Come with me.” And just like that, he turned, leading me toward our table—while my pulse refused to slow. He lifted a hand, signaling the waiter. “We’ll have it now.” “You already ordered?” I asked once the waiter walked away, my gaze lingering on Zeus. “You like having hot coffee after a long drive,” he said simply. That… right there. The way he remembered the smallest things, what I liked, what I didn’t despite this being nothing more than a contract marriage… it unraveled me. Piece by piece, it pulled me closer to a feeling I had no right to hold onto, LOVE. Or at least… something dangerously close to it.But to him?It might have meant nothing. Maybe he was just being kind. Just being nice. Maybe this was who Zeus was with everyone nd I was the fool reading too deeply into gestures that were never meant to carry weight and I didn’t know. What I did know was that these feelings of mine were no longer simple. And yet, I was willing to bury them, to keep them hidden, until, if ever, Zeus decided to take a step toward me. “That’s right, I got you something.” We spoke at the same time, the words colliding between us. Heat rushed to my cheeks as realization sank in, he remembered. He remembered what today was. “You go first,” I murmured, my voice soft, almost betraying me. Zeus didn’t argue. Instead, he reached into his bag and pulled out a brown envelope, holding it out to me. And suddenly my heartbeat didn’t feel steady anymore. “What did you give me?” I asked, my voice tight with unease. His lips curved into a calm, almost reassuring smile. “You’re overthinking,” he said gently. “Take a look.” I searched his face for a moment, trying to read him. And somehow I convinced myself this was a good thing.It had to be. Why else would he look at me like that? A fragile hope stirred in my chest, growing stronger with every passing second. Whatever was inside that envelope—it couldn’t be bad. Not today. Not when everything felt like it was finally falling into place. Today.This was the day I was supposed to tell him.No more hiding. No more pretending.The envelope in my hands suddenly felt heavier, like it carried more than just paper—like it held an answer I had been waiting for without realizing it.Maybe… he felt it too.The thought sent a nervous warmth through me, my fingers trembling as I slowly broke the seal.Before opening it completely, I glanced up at him again.Zeus gave a slight nod, his gaze steady.“Go ahead,” he murmured. Swallowing hard, I slid the document out, the faint rustle echoing far too loudly in my ears. I unfolded it carefully, my pulse quickening with every second. Then I looked down. At first, the words didn’t make sense. They blurred together, meaningless. And then they didn’t. The truth slammed into me all at once. My breath caught sharply, my chest tightening as if something inside me had cracked open. The paper slipped from my grasp, drifting to the floor as the world around me seemed to tilt. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe “ Zeus, what’s this?” her voice trembles at the very moment. “ Why not read it Sarah? It’s written on the paper!” “ I dont understand,Zeus!” She cant believe that this is happening . “ Let’s Divorce ,Sarah!”