I Found a One-Way Ticket to Freedom

In our five years of marriage, my husband, Derrick Wickham, bails on me 99 times for his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Harson.

This time, after he stands me up, I find two plane tickets to Frantines in his office.

"I was planning to surprise you for our anniversary. Since you've already seen them, we'll just meet at the airport," he says icily.

I eagerly pack and get myself ready, arriving early at the airport. I wait from the wee hours of dawn till the late hours of night, but Derrick fails to show up.

Then, I see a post on Jessica's social media. "It's my birthday today. Though he doesn't have the time to go on a trip with me to Frantines, I forgive him because he brought me to the amusement park instead!"

In the past, I'd have called him, crying and demanding answers. But this time, I'm truly done.

The airport was freezing cold at night, and it was pouring heavily outside.

Jessica's post on social media ruffled my feathers to no end. I gripped my phone tightly, resisting the urge to throw it.

This was the 99th time Derrick had stood me up.

An uncontrollable tremble ran through me. The last trace of hope in my heart had utterly vanished.

Just a week ago, Derrick had publicly abandoned me at a banquet, exposing me to ridicule and scorn, all because Jessica had been locked out of her house.

As the banquet had been held in a remote place, a close friend of mine had to come a long way to pick me up and send me home after it was over.

I had been angry at Derrick for a long time because of that. That was, until I saw two tickets to Frantines in his office.

When I discovered them, he said coldly, "I was planning to surprise you for our anniversary. Since you've already seen them, we'll just meet at the airport."

I knew he was just trying to placate me. Every time he broke a promise to me because of Jessica, he would get me a gift. And foolishly, I fell for it every time. I was always easily swayed and quick to forgive him.

But this time, all I felt was endless weariness.

Outside the airport, the storm raged, making me sneeze uncontrollably. The place was nearly empty, and I had to offer double the fare on the ride-hailing app before finally getting a driver at 1:00 am.

…

When I returned home and turned on the light, I was startled to see Derrick sitting silently in the living room.

With his arms crossed, he demanded none too kindly, "Where have you been, staying out so late?"

I wasn't in the mood to answer him, so I pulled my luggage upstairs on my own. After waiting all day at the airport, I was completely exhausted.

Enraged by my silence, Derrick grabbed my wrist. "Answer me!" he demanded.

I looked at his hand holding mine and felt defeated. "Where do you think I went with my suitcase?" I asked as I pushed the luggage toward him irritably.

But Derrick had completely forgotten our plans. He kicked the suitcase away.

"Well, aren't you something? Trying to run off without a word, are you? Do you even see me as your husband? Shouldn't you have informed me before going out?"

I laughed coldly at his twisted logic. "Mr. Wickham, how convenient that you forget your own plans. You've forgotten that you were supposed to go to Frantines today, haven't you? But then again, you were busy with your childhood sweetheart at the amusement park. How could you possibly remember me?"

A flicker of guilt crossed Derrick's face, but it was quickly replaced by impatience.

"You know how busy I am with work. Besides, Jessie and I grew up together. She's an orphan, and all she wanted was for me to accompany her on her birthday. Is that too much to ask for?"

I was truly tired of hearing the same excuse over and over. Just because they grew up together and Jessica had no parents, Derrick would always drop everything for her. Her needs always came first, even before mine.

And now, because of her birthday, he had left me waiting at the airport all day without a word. It was absurd.

Derrick's grip was tight. I struggled to break free and replied calmly, "Fine, I know I was wrong. Sorry."

In the past, I would have argued endlessly. But now, I felt nothing. All I wanted was to end this conversation and head upstairs to get some rest.

Derrick stared at me, seemingly puzzled. He studied me for a long time as if searching for something.

But soon, he heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that you understand. I'll bring you to a holiday resort after I'm done with work tomorrow."

With that, he walked past me and headed upstairs.

I responded absent-mindedly and took out my phone to contact a friend I hadn't seen in a long time.

If my guess was right, Derrick would most likely be called away by Jessica for all sorts of reasons during the resort trip tomorrow. And if that were the case, I may as well contact my friend and start preparing for the divorce.

Once we were divorced, whatever he did for Jessica would no longer be my concern.