CHAPTER 3
946 Words
Laura’s Point of View
“Mama?”
I froze.
My heart leapt out of my chest as I saw her head slump to the side.
“Mama?!”
Her body suddenly limp, her arm hanging off the side like a broken branch. Her grocery bag had slipped to the floor, spilling oranges across the tiles.
“Mama!” I cried, rushing toward her.
I shook her arm. No response. Her eyes were half open, lips pale. My breath caught in my throat. I grabbed her cold hands and screamed again, louder this time.
“Somebody help me!”
No one came.
Tears blurred my vision as I reached for my phone with shaky fingers. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. I dialed 911, pressing the call button so hard it almost cracked the screen.
“Yes, yes, please— my mother just passed out! She’s not moving. She’s not talking. She’s cold. Please send help! Please!”
I couldn’t breathe. My chest hurt. My knees buckled, but I didn’t stop sobbing.
They promised to send an ambulance. I dropped the phone and cupped my mother’s face.
“Stay with me,” I whispered. “Please, Mama. Please don’t leave me too.”
I buried my face into her lap, shaking, crying, shaking again.
Soon, I heard the door creak open.
Footsteps followed.
My heart jumped—hope? Help?
No.
It was *him*.
Jerry.
He strolled in casually, whistling. Like nothing happened. Like he hadn’t just destroyed my soul and spit on it. Like he wasn’t sleeping with Karen less than ten minutes ago.
In his hand?
A damn envelope.
He didn’t even glance at my mother. Not once. He looked straight at me.
“I figured it was time to end the act,” he said, tossing the envelope onto the table.
I blinked at it through my tears. “What… what is that?”
“Divorce papers.”
The words slapped me.
I gasped. “You’re leaving me? Just like that?! After everything?!”
He shrugged. “I’m tired. You’re not exactly exciting, Laura. And Karen’s... well... Karen.”
“You’re disgusting!” I shouted. “You—you CHEATED on me! Right here, in our house! And now you want a divorce?! You should be the one begging me to stay!”
“But I’m not,” he said flatly. “You know why?”
He leaned in.
“Because I don’t love you anymore. And yes, I cheated in our house... that's why I'm trying to set you free from me.”
I stood there, speechless.
No... this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to scream and throw things. I was supposed to slap him and say, “Good riddance.”
But I didn’t.
Instead, I fell to my knees and grabbed his hand.
“I’m begging you,” I whispered. “Please don’t leave.”
He looked at me like I was dirt.
“I love you,” I said, louder this time. “Please. Jerry, I know you messed up, but I still love you. I don’t want to lose you. Please.”
I was pathetic. I knew it.
But my heart was too weak for pride.
“You’re unbelievable,” he muttered, shaking his head.
I pulled at his hand again. “I’ll do anything. Just... don’t leave. Please.”
He yanked his hand away.
“Don’t be stupid, Laura. It’s over. Just sign the papers.”
“No.”
“Sign. The. Papers.”
“I won’t!” I screamed. “You don’t get to do this! You cheated! You lied! You don’t get to throw me away like garbage!”
His face darkened.
He stepped closer, looked down at me, and said in a low, terrifying voice, “Then I’ll kill your mother.”
I froze.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
My jaw dropped. “You... you wouldn’t.”
He didn’t blink. “Try me.”
“You’re a monster!” I cried, grabbing my chest. “You would kill my sick, helpless mother just to be with Karen?!”
“She’s in the way.”
I backed up, hands shaking.
This wasn’t my husband. This wasn’t the man I married.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. My whole body trembled.
I was shameless enough to want to continue the marriage after I caught my husband in bed with another woman. I was shameless enough that I still had plans to remain in that marriage. But it was not just that. I was pleading with him to stay even when he wanted to leave. What was more shameless than that? What could be more humiliating?
He didn’t care. He just stepped over my mother’s wheelchair like she was furniture and pointed to the papers again.
“Sign it.”
I looked at my mom—still barely conscious. Still not moving.
I looked back at him.
“Sign it, or I swear to God, Laura, I’ll do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
I grabbed the pen.
My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
He folded his arms and waited.
I looked down at the paper. I couldn’t even read it. My tears made everything blur.
I signed.
One signature. One death sentence to my dignity.
He snatched the papers away and smiled like he had just won a jackpot.
“Thanks, babe,” he said. “Good luck with yo
ur new life. You’ll need it.”
And with that, he walked out.
Slamming the door behind him.
I collapsed on the floor again and let the tears fall freely.
- Writer
