The art show wrapped up. Hank was the perfect gentleman offering to escort me out and drive me home.
Before I could even respond, John grabbed my hand.
“She’s got a husband. I’ll take her home,” he declared and whisked me away.
A sharp, fishy stench hit me the moment I stepped into the car. I was not naive, and I knew exactly what that smell meant.
“I just had the car washed. It’s probably the cleaner they used,” John blurted out a bit too quickly.
I let it slide, asking instead, “What about Holly?
“You’re just going to leave her to get herself home?”
“Yasmin, can you please drop the attitude?” he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.
“I know I shouldn’t have fought with you this morning. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things.
“I get that you can’t stand Holly. I’ll cut ties with her. Can’t we just get back to how things used to be?”
I had heard his empty promises more times than I could count.
Six years trapped in a joyless marriage was more than enough.
Now, all I wanted was to break free from the darkness and the chains of this so–called ‘marriage‘.
“Our divorce papers are on the coffee table at home. Just sign them when you get a chance.
“If you don’t, I’ll just take you to court.”
His face clouded over in an instant.
“Yasmin, that’s enough!
“I’ve already swallowed my pride to make things right with you, so don’t get all high and mighty just because you’ve got some painting skills now.”
“Oh, but I am high and mighty. What are you going to do about it?
“Weren’t you the one who said I’d be lost without you, broke and unemployed?”
I fixed him with a steely gaze.
“John, I’m going to thrive without you.”
I was so over the years I had spent with him.
I stepped out of the car and walked away. I started renting a place of my own.
