I was scrolling through my Moments when I saw Caitlin posting a long message celebrating her twenty-seventh birthday. The nine-grid collage of photos showed my husband, Jeffery, by her side in every picture. He gazed at her affectionately, blowing out candles together and cutting the cake.
Caitlin snuggled up to Jeffery like a little bird, smiling blissfully, as if she were the one married to him. A crowd of people around them applauded, creating a lively atmosphere. The comments below were filled with various blessings, calling them a golden couple and a perfect match. Some even suggested I should let go and divorce Jeffery to facilitate his relationship with Caitlin.
The absurdity was that Jeffery liked this post. Did he see that comment? Did he also want a divorce from me?
My heart was suddenly pierced with pain, plunging into an abyss. I knew Jeffery had always been unable to let go of Caitlin. They had a deep bond since childhood, but they never ended up together. Caitlin was his first love, the one he couldn't forget.
In our marriage, he rarely spoke to me or even looked at me without seeming annoyed.
Looking at the meticulously prepared feast and cake in front of me, I smiled self-deprecatingly, tears streaming down my face without my knowledge.
Did he even realize today was our third wedding anniversary?
I picked up my phone and called Jeffery. After a long ring, he finally answered. His deep voice carried a hint of indifference, "Hello, what's up?"
I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the sourness in my throat. "Where are you now?"
"At the office. I have to work late tonight; I might be back a little later."
Jeffery said it so lightly. If I hadn't heard the laughter and joy coming from my phone, I might have believed his lies.
I softly asked, "Do you really have to work late? Can't you skip it just this once and come home early to keep me company?"
His tone clearly grew impatient. "Amelie, don't make a fuss. Working overtime isn't a small matter; I truly can't spare the time."
"In a couple of days, I'll make time to come back and keep you company."
I felt utterly heartbroken. Coming back in a couple of days? Was he treating me like a beggar?
Celebrating his first love's birthday was a big deal, but celebrating our wedding anniversary was a trivial matter?
"Jeffery, let's get a divorce."
Between me and his first love, I was always his backup!
He cherished every word from his first love, while I was nothing but an afterthought.
What was I?
Just a tool to enhance their relationship?
Enough is enough!
I was completely fed up!
Since there was mutual affection between them, I would give them my blessing!
Without waiting for Jeffery to respond, I hung up the phone.
Looking at the large spread of food, I wiped away my tears and silently ate it all.
I didn't finish, so I threw it away.
After tidying up the dining table, I returned to my room, taking out the divorce agreement that I had prepared and hidden at the bottom of a drawer.
I signed my name with a pen and placed the divorce agreement on a prominent spot on the table.
Then, I went to pack my things, carefully putting away everything that belonged to me into a suitcase.
Now that I had decided to divorce, there was no need to stay in this place any longer.
If I was going to cut ties, I had to do it cleanly!
Once I finished packing, I took my suitcase, loaded it onto my small car, and drove to the little place I had saved up for after graduating.
This little place was bought before our marriage; it was my premarital property.
I thought I would never have the chance to live there after getting married.
Unexpectedly, three years into the marriage, I was getting divorced from Jeffery.
I spent three years trying to win Jeffery's affection, but I lost utterly.
There was still time to regret now.
I returned to my little place, organized my clothes, and washed up before going to bed.
The next day, I woke up to find my pillow half-soaked, my head heavy, and my throat dry and itchy.
I reached up to feel my forehead; it was a bit hot, probably a fever.
I hadn't stayed in my little place for a long time and didn't have any medicine, so I'd need to go to the hospital for some soon.
I forced myself to get up and found several new messages from Jeffery on my phone.
"What does the divorce agreement on the table mean?"
"There should be limits to your nonsense!"
"Come back quickly while I'm still in a good mood!"
I felt utterly defeated, lacking the energy to reply.
I had noticed he had been in frequent contact with Caitlin. Whenever she called, he would rush over without a second thought.
I had made a fuss about it several times.
But he insisted I was being unreasonable over trivial matters, making trouble for no reason.
Afterward, he would give me gifts as a token gesture, and the issue would be swept under the rug.
Because I loved him, I chose to forgive him.
But each time I forgave him, he only became more brazen.
So this time, I had no intention of forgiving him.
Because I was tired and didn't want to keep up the struggle anymore.