Till Death Do Us Part

02. Let's Get A Divorce!

My story with Larry began when I was only eleven. My father had just passed away and things were unbearable for my mother and I. The Taylor family was worth millions of dollars but after my father's passing, his greedy siblings casted us out and left us with nothing.

With nowhere to live, my mother had to turn to an old classmate who allowed us to live with her family on the condition that we helped out with the house chores. The friend was none other than Mrs Linda Thompson, the woman who was now my mother in law.

The Thompson family consisted of three members, Larry, his younger sister and their mother. The other person who was close to the family was the Ella Reid, Sandra's mother. Apparently they were childhood friends and had promised to wed their children in the future.

When they turned sixteen, Larry and Sandra exchanged a ring as their promise to get married once they were old enough. They had to go their separate ways after highschool because Sandra chose to attend college in a different city.

With her out of the picture, Larry and I grew closer and eventually became a couple. After graduation, his mother suggested that we got married and we did. A year after our wedding, Sandra came back to town, and that was the last time I ever felt the affection of my husband.

As I heard her voice on the phone, my already broken heart shattered once again.

"Sandra?" I said in a voice so low that it sounded faraway.

"That's my name! Now can you stop bothering Larry? He's busy. When he gets home he can be your husband again, but at this moment, he's mine and we need some privacy. So stop calling him like some kind of clingy loser."

I opened my mouth but I had no idea what to say. "I --I -"

"Who is it?"

I heard his voice in the background. There was silence for a while before he spoke again. "Vanessa, what is it again? I'm busy!" His voice was harsh and devoid of warm emotions.

"I-I wanted to tell you tha-"

"Daddy look, I got a candy from the doctor!"

My heart seized its beating when I heard that. For the past four years I had been suspicious. Many times I'd scold myself for doubting my husband but even still, the doubt remained in my heart.

When Sandra came back, she was pregnant like I was even though she was still single. A month after, we were both in an accident but he neglected my treatment and instead paid the doctors to make sure to save Sandra and her baby.

I ended up having a still birth while Sandra's child was born healthy, and had been the apple of Larry's eye ever since.

When I found out, I demanded a divorce but he had not agreed to it.

Now four years later, he was choosing his ex lover and her child over me, his legally married wife.

"Larry, I need to talk to you. Come home early." I said simply and hung up. Doctor Wook already said I might not last two years without treatment, and I wouldn't want to spend the last two years of my life in the bondage I called a marriage.

***

After my phone call with Larry, I decided to visit my parents at the cemetery. My mother had passed just three months after my wedding after battling with cancer.

I placed the fresh bouquet of white roses I had bought from a flower shop on my way.

"Mom, dad, I think I might be joining you pretty soon." I said, trying my best to hold back my tears. "I'm sorry I didn't live a long life, at least we'll all be together again.

I'm gonna ask Larry one more time, and this time I won't give up if he says no. I'm going to get my freedom back!"

***

When I got back home, Larry was already there. As I let myself into the building, his gaze fell on me and for the first time in four years, his expression wasn't hard.

"Where the hell were you?" He questioned in a stern voice.

"Out." I decided I wasn't going to tell him about my illness, not that he would care even if I did. "Larry, it's time for us to get a divorce."

"What?" He was obviously surprised by my statement because his jaw dropped. He narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. I am done with this so called marriage, I'm quitting." If truly what I heard on the phone was true, and Larry had a child with his ex while he had me abort the other pregnancies I had, then there was no way I could remain with such a man. It was time to put an end to it. To everything.

Larry let out a laugh that sent shivers down my spine, then in an intimidating tone, he said, "I know you're joking, but I'm not in the mood for it."

"Larry, I have endured for way too long, it's time for me to let you go."

"Well I have no intention of letting you go. Do you hear me?" He grabbed my hair and pulled me closer to his face. "Did you forget our wedding vows? We signed a life contract, till death do us part. So darling, until the day you die, you belong to me, and I'm not letting you go anywhere. I own you, Vanessa Taylor." With a rough shove, my body was thrown to the ground and he stormed off.

The first time I demanded for a divorce, I had given up the second he said no. But this time was different, I had to fight for my freedom like my life depended on it…because it did.

***

The next morning Larry was gone by the time I woke up but I wasn't going to let that discourage me. I took my time in getting dressed and made my way down to the City Hall to request for divorce papers. When I got back home, I signed it and placed it on the desk in his room.

He didn't return home that day but I didn't care, whenever he decided to come back, he would meet the divorce papers waiting for him.

I didn't have to wait long though because he returned later that evening.

"Vanessa! What the hell is the meaning of this?!!" He barked as he went through it.

"What does it look like?"

"Is this some kind of dunb joke?! Or were you deaf when I said no?!"

Usuallly I was always intimidated whenever he raised his voice but at that particular moment, I didn't care. I didn't care about anything.

"Mr Thompson, I already made myself clear that I was done with this marriage so I see no reason we have to keep doing this."

"What did you just call me?"

"I addressed you by your name, but if you don't find it convenient, then perhaps you'd prefer stranger, or maybe ex husband? Although I don't think there's the need for that, because after this, I don't plan on seeing you ever ag-" My words were brought to a sudden halt when I was hit across the face.

It wasn't the first time though so I wasn't surprised. I cleared my throat and continued. "As you can see, Mr Thompson, I have already tendered my signature. All that's left is for you to do the same, and we'll get it finalized at the City Hall tomorrow. Now, if you'll excuse me." I walked into the guest room -which had become my personal room for the past four years- and locked the door.