Our Love Has Expired

By the time I finished drafting the divorce papers, dawn was breaking.

The bed was empty; Lucas had already dashed off to Maggie's place.

I left the signed divorce papers on the coffee table and began packing up my belongings silently.

I heard that the stars in Alaska's Arctic Village were magnificent, and I wanted to experience them by myself.

I'd head there as soon as my ankle was better.

The twist I suffered last night might seem minor, but it hurt as much as our failing marriage—painful enough to keep me up at night.

I couldn't stand it any longer, so I hailed a cab to the hospital.

Shortly after, Lucas called.

I hesitated, startled.

Had he found the divorce papers already?

Was he calling to explain or to try to keep me?

After a moment's pause, I picked up.

"Sarah, my flight's been delayed. I'd love some fish soup for lunch; could you drop it off at my office? Make sure there are no bones in it."

Lucas hated fish.

It's always the pregnant ones who crave fish soup.

Suppressing my irritation, I responded with frost in my voice, "I don't have time."

I didn't want to kick off a never-ending debate, so I didn't call him out on his lie.

Lucas sounded annoyed.

"You're doing nothing at home anyway."

"Sarah, can't you see I'm working this hard for you? I've got a client who's driving me nuts. I barely have time to eat or sleep..."

I cut him off mid-sentence and pushed the hospital room door open.

Lucas, feeding Maggie, froze; Maggie's smile stiffened on her face.

"You stalking me?" Lucas' face darkened.

"I came to check on my ankle. Saw a figure that looked like you, decided to check."

Ten years of marriage, and I knew his silhouette too well.

I also knew his nervous ticks when he lied.

He relaxed slightly, touched his nose, and forced a sheepish smile. "This is my assistant. She fainted at work, so I brought her here."

"Sarah, we've weathered hard times together. You should understand why I care about my staff."

I didn't get it, and frankly, I didn't want to.

Right then, I realized just how clumsy Lucas' lies were.

I should've seen through them long ago.

It was my love for him that blinded me.

Lucas remembered my ankle injury.

I gave some non-committal replies and then suddenly asked, "When are you going home?"

Maggie straightened up, her demeanor wary, accentuating her figure.

Lucas glanced her way.

"Might be a few days, a week maybe. I need to take Maggie on a business trip once she's up to it."

"Don't miss me too much. I'll bring you back a gift."

"Sure."

A week was all I needed to erase my past.

The doctor reassured me my ankle wasn't serious—just a few days of treatment and I'd be good.

The next few days were a blur of activity.

I was too busy to wallow in sadness.

With Lucas on his "business trip" to Hong Kong, I seized the moment.

I reviewed the company's operations and consulted with industry veterans about the asset division.

As I went through one report after another, I also began to clear out the house.

I used to cling to the past, unable to let go of anything.

Every corner of our home was packed with memories of Lucas and me.

The furniture we chose together.

The myriad gifts he'd given me.

All the couple's items I'd purchased.

I believed Lucas when he gave me those gifts, believed he truly loved me.

But he wasn't just mine.

The same sweet nothings he whispered to me, he whispered to Maggie.

The same gifts were given to her as well.

Maggie always got more.

When Lucas betrayed me, all those cherished memories turned into nauseating reminders of his deceit.

Trash belongs in the bin, and that's where it all went.

After several days, I'd nearly cleared out all our things.

As I was about to throw out the last trash bag, Lucas returned home early.

He couldn't hide his excitement and hugged me tightly the moment he saw me.

"Sarah, I've missed you so much."

The divorce papers lay untouched, but he hadn't noticed them.

The house was nearly empty, but he was oblivious.

My worn, tearful face went unseen.

He was too wrapped up in his own happiness.

"Still tidying up? Take a break. I'm famished. How about you cook us something?"

He handed me a rejected gift box from Maggie.

"This project's far from over. I'll have to stay at the office longer. Could you whip up something special to cheer me up?"

Little did Lucas know, Maggie had spilled everything on social media.

I knew they'd hit up the amusement park in Hong Kong and had a medical checkup.

I even knew that Maggie was expecting a boy, and Lucas was ecstatic, buying her a fancy flat near the office to nest in.

If my guess was right, Lucas' "project" would keep him busy for the next ten months.

I didn't plan to wait that long.

After a pause, I looked up at Lucas.

"I'll make a large pot of fish soup and a few light dishes. Let's have a good meal together."

Without Lucas, I might not have graduated.

Without me, he wouldn't have achieved what he has.

We'll have this meal and part ways amicably, with no debts between us.