I took the papers back from him and immediately walked out of the door without another word.
Behind me, Hansel spoke to me in a deep, apologetic voice. “Mel, I’ll head back and stay by your side later. Wait for me at home.”
I left the hospital without replying to him; I’d never be that woman who would wait for him at the villa.
As I was leaving, Hansel suddenly noticed that I had lost many pounds. Feeling pained at the sight, he felt panic creeping in as if he were going to lose something important.
I went home to the villa I shared with Hansel for a decade and put my signature on the divorce papers.
I left them on the coffee table, along with my bank card and the car keys.
It took me an entire night to sort through my belongings. I moved all the relationship–related stuff to the courtyard, including all the photos we took over the years and our wedding photos.
Sparks flew in the air. Soon, the pile of items turned into ashes after being licked by fire.
Dragging my luggage with me, I took the cab to the airport without looking back.
“Goodbye, Hansel Saddler,” I whispered in a barely audible voice.
The breeze from outside the car window caressed my face. I felt a wave of relief that I had never felt before.
Before I boarded my flight, I got a call from Hansel.
“Sorry, Mel. I need to stay at the office for work tonight. I’ll come home tomorrow morning and bring you some avocado salmon
toast. What do you think?”
I chuckled and replied nonchalantly, “Hansel Saddler, I am allergic to fish. It’s fine–I forgive you. Goodbye.”
After hanging up, I removed the SIM card, tossed it into the trash can, and boarded a flight abroad.
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