Beyond the Break: Healing and Moving On

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Diana was sitting beside me, looking concerned.

“Grady, we can argue, but don’t take it out on your health, okay? You really scared me this time with your high fever and fainting.”

“You don’t know why I got sick?” I asked.

Who made me wait in the rain? Who left me out in the cold all night? Who said they’d take me to the hospital but instead went off drinking with friends?

Diana turned away, guilt clear on her face. “Let’s not talk about that now. Come on, have something to eat. I made you some soup.”

It was supposed to be a seafood chowder, but there were only a few sparse grains of rice floating around.

It looked more like watered-down gruel, something that turned my stomach just to look at.

At that moment, William walked in. “Diana, the seafood chowder you made was great, but I’m still hungry. Come downstairs with me to grab a bite.”

Diana glanced at me with a conflicted expression.

“Go ahead,” I said, tossing the soup into the trash.

“William has a sensitive stomach…” Diana mumbled, embarrassed.

But William looped his arm around Diana’s, urging her to leave.

She hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll bring you something good when I get back.” Then she left in a hurry.

I ordered some takeout for myself, and after finishing my IV drip, I asked the doctor for a prescription.

The doctor looked at me a few times before speaking. “Was that your wife who was here earlier?”

“My ex-wife.”

“Good,” the doctor replied. “I was wondering. While you were unconscious, she and another man were all over each other in the hallway, hugging and even kissing by your bedside, like they were in a hotel.”

She handed me my prescription along with her phone. “Leave your number. If you’re not feeling well, you can contact me anytime.”

I noticed the expectation in her eyes and nodded.

When I got home, I saw a message from Diana: [There’s an emergency at the office. I can’t stay with you. If you feel unwell, message me, and I’ll come to see you as soon as I can.]

As if.

I remembered the time I had a bad stomach flu, writhing in pain, only for Diana to complain that I was disturbing her sleep and move to the study with her blanket.

“If you’re not feeling well, go see a doctor. What good is telling me? I’m not a doctor!”

This time, feeling frustrated and upset, I contacted the doctor I’d just met instead. We had coffee and went for a walk, which improved my mood significantly.

But when I returned home, I was shocked.

The small apartment was filled with people – both my and Diana’s parents, Diana, and William – all looking at me in unison.

Diana’s eyes were red as she stared at the divorce papers in front of her. William crossed his arms, smirking at me.

“I’ve never seen such a shameless man. Diana has been so good to you, and yet you go and mess around with some other woman.”

My mom held up a picture of me with the doctor.

“What’s going on? Diana says you’ve been unfaithful, that you’re the one who wants a divorce. Haven’t you two always gotten along?”

I hadn’t expected Diana to stoop this low.

Diana’s mother pounded the table. “Divorce! We won’t tolerate a man who can’t stay faithful. No wonder Diana hasn’t been able to get pregnant all these years. It’s because you’ve ruined your body with your antics!”

Everyone began talking over each other, hurling insults and accusations at me.

I looked at Diana, trying to contain my anger.

“Diana, don’t twist the truth and play the victim. Did you think I didn’t know what you’ve been doing behind my back? I was trying to spare you some dignity, but since you’ve decided to make this ugly, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

I went to the bedroom and brought out a box.

During the move, I had discovered something even more shocking than Diana’s affair.

I had kept quiet, waiting for the right moment.

And now, that moment had come.