THEIR DIVORCE
1062 Words
POV IDA
It's been one whole week. A full week without school, and no Dad.
It feels like he disappeared into the night.
No one knows where he is, and no one dares to ask.
I've been taking care of Mom this whole week.
She only comes down to eat after I plead with her, then goes straight back to her room. Not a single word has escaped her mouth.
Kay has been my lifeline. She's been delivering my assignments back and forth, and checking on me every day. I don't know what I'd do without her.
School will end soon, and college will start. I need to focus, but it's hard with all the fighting at home.
The other night, I saw Mom sleeping in Dad's clothes, clutching his picture.
Even asleep, tears slipped down her cheeks.
I want to hate Dad for breaking Mom like this.
But I can't.
When I think of him, it's like I understand him. Like I know what's going through his head, and I sympathize with him.
I don't know where these feelings come from.
And then there are the dreams. Weird, vivid dreams that feel too real to be dreams.
They're probably nonsense.
But I keep seeing a six-foot demon with red eyes, staring at me like it's waiting for my command to unleash chaos.
I won't lie... there are moments I want to give it what it wants.
If it wants chaos, I could give it everything.
We're already dealing with so many problems. These dreams are making it worse.
I went to Mom's room and stopped short.
She was dressed up. Not like the Mom who'd been balling her eyes out days ago.
"Mom, where are you going?" I asked, watching her grab her bag.
"Not me, Ida. _We_," she said. "Get dressed. We're going to court. For what's required of me.
I'm not letting your dad take you from me. But if you want to stay with him, I'll agree to your request."
I looked her straight in the eyes.
Legally, the decision was mine since I'm still a minor.
"I choose you, Mom," I said, smiling through the tears. "I love you both, but if I have to choose, it's you."
"Don't you dare give up on me, young lady," she said, squeezing my hands. "Dad's a lawyer, so give it your all, okay?"
I threw myself into her arms and hugged her tightly.
Dad hurt me with this separation. I can forgive him, but staying with him is a different story.
I can't look at the face that killed Mom's smile every day like nothing happened.
I can't see him with another woman.
I dressed quickly while Mom made calls to her lawyers.
We all knew it - if Dad set his mind on something, no one could change it.
If he wanted me, he'd fight for me.
She had to bring in the best lawyers if she wanted full custody.
Downstairs, Mom finished her calls and gave me a small, gentle smile.
We drove to the courthouse.
I kept peeking at her from the passenger seat.
The divorce would come first, then the custody hearing.
Both Mom and Dad were financially stable enough to take care of me for life.
One's a lawyer, one's a doctor.
Who would the judge choose?
When we arrived, Dad's car was already there.
Was he that impatient to divorce Mom?
Through the side mirror, I saw a beautiful woman in the passenger seat.
She looked powerful yet fragile, almost unreal with how perfect she was.
As if she felt me staring, she turned.
The moment our eyes locked, she bowed politely to me.
It felt like respect for a superior. Or maybe she was just being polite as Dad's friend.
She gave me a warm smile, and I smiled back.
She looked innocent and kind. Nothing like the "home wrecker" I'd imagined.
I don't know what I'd do if I ever met the woman who was actually destroying my family.
"Come on, dear. The hearing's about to start," Mom said.
Even with how composed she was, I could see the longing in her eyes as she stared at Dad.
It was clear she still loved her husband.
The eyes never lie.
The hearing went faster than I expected.
Seeing Mom and Dad sign those divorce papers shattered something in me.
Mom's tears dropped onto the paper as her hands trembled.
Her lawyer held her shoulders firmly, nodding at her until she finally signed.
I sat there feeling numb.
How could a marriage break just from signing a paper?
Was everything they built together really nothing at all?
I blinked hard, refusing to let a tear fall.
This is the kind of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Watching your parents go from a perfect marriage to arguments, to divorce...
It hurts. And all you can do is act strong while you're breaking into a million pieces.
The judge rescheduled the custody hearing for tomorrow afternoon.
I couldn't believe this was happening to my family.
I looked at Dad. He gave me a sad smile.
No matter what, I love my Dad.
He's the only man I can't stay angry at.
He's the one who keeps me sane when everything else feels like madness.
He's my safe haven.
Mom took my hand, and we left the courtroom.
Her hands felt ice cold.
"Cassandra!"
We both turned at the voice.
Dad was running toward us, panting.
"Hey, you guys left so fast I didn't get the chance to do something I wanted to," he said, catching his breath.
"I guess he's getting old. Though sometimes he's still stronger than he looks."
"What else do you want, Victor?" Mom said, exhausted.
"Nothing much, Cassandra. Just this..."
He pulled Mom into a hug.
She froze for a second, then hugged him back, tight. Like she never wanted to let go.
She never wanted this divorce in the first place.
I don't understand. If they love each other this much, why are they divorcing?
After what felt like forever, they let go.
"One day you'll understand all this, Cassie," Dad said softly.
"When that day comes, I'll be waiting for you with open arms."
He kissed Mom's forehead, squeezed my hand gently, and walked away.
I stood there, completely baffled.
_What's happening to this family?_
- Writer
