Chapter 3 · Leaving My Husband and His Mother

Chapter 3

At ten o'clock that night, I told David, "I'm going on a business trip tomorrow."

"Where to?" he asked, still watching the game.

"Just the next city over. It's for a project, probably three or four days," I said.

That was a lie.

He needed a believable excuse for me disappearing for a few days. "Oh, got it," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

I rolled my suitcase out of the bedroom.

It was just a little 20-inch carry-on.

It was just a decoy.

I'd already shipped my real luggage ahead with a same-day courier.

It was already waiting for me at the airport's luggage storage.

He shot a quick glance at the suitcase. "That's all you're bringing?"

"Yeah, it's just a few days," I replied.

"Whatever, just come back soon," he said.

I slipped on my shoes and stood by the door. "I'm heading out."

"Mm-hmm." He didn't even look back at me.

All his attention was locked on the flickering figures on the TV screen.

I walked out the door.

The door closed behind me with a soft click.

I stood in the dark hallway.

I took out my set of keys.

There was the house key, the building key, and the mailbox key.

I slipped the house key off the ring.

I placed it on top of the fire extinguisher box by the door.

He would never find it there.

Now, there was one less person in this home.

I didn't look back.

I dragged my suitcase into the elevator.

The taxi cut through the night.

I went straight to the airport.

I grabbed the large suitcase I'd shipped ahead and picked it up from storage.

Then I checked in for my flight to the city where my parents lived.

While I was waiting for my flight, I pulled out my phone.

I opened the chat with David.

The chat was empty.

The last thing I sent him was three days ago, asking him to pick up some Fish Sauce on his way home.

I didn't text or call him.

I just stared at it.

Then I switched my phone to airplane mode.

The plane took off.

With the roar of the engines, the city shrank into a sea of twinkling lights.

It kept getting smaller and smaller.

Finally, it was swallowed up by the clouds.

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

Three years of marriage.

All those moments I used to think were sweet and warm.

Now, looking back, they just felt like a bunch of carefully staged lies.

He treated me well.

He bought me breakfast, picked me up from work when it rained, and even remembered my period.

I remembered all of it.

But next to that 468,000 dollars, all those gestures felt so cheap.

They seemed worthless.

He didn't love me.

He was just keeping a hassle-free, free roommate around.

A roommate who cooked, cleaned, never spent his money, and even chipped in with my own salary.

*****

The plane landed.

It was one in the morning.

My parents were waiting for me at the exit.

When my mom saw me, she froze for a second. "Why are you back all of a sudden? And why are you dragging so much luggage?"

"Work's sending me to Sylvaria for half a year. I just wanted to come home and see you both before I go," I said.

"Sylvaria? That's great news!" My dad was all smiles. "What about David?"

"He's busy. Couldn't make it," I replied.

I didn't want them to know about all the mess behind the scenes.

At least, not right now.

When I got home, I took a shower.

I lay down on the bed I'd grown up sleeping in.

I slipped a new SIM card into my phone.

With my new number, I set up all my apps again.

I pulled out the old SIM card.

I tucked it into an envelope, along with the key ring, minus the house key.

I'd send that envelope to David before heading to Sylvaria.

That would be my last farewell.

By the time I finished, it was almost dawn.

I wasn't tired at all.

I started mapping out every detail of my life for the next six months.

Work, study, and getting my finances in order.

I was determined to make up for every single day I'd wasted over the past three years.

As for David and Linda, I couldn't help but wonder what the look on their faces would be when they realized that their 'sensible' daughter-in-law had disappeared, along with her salary card.

I bet it'll be a real show.

Chapter 3

At ten o'clock that night, I told David, "I'm going on a business trip tomorrow."

"Where to?" he asked, still watching the game.

"Just the next city over. It's for a project, probably three or four days," I said.

That was a lie.

He needed a believable excuse for me disappearing for a few days. "Oh, got it," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

I rolled my suitcase out of the bedroom.

It was just a little 20-inch carry-on.

It was just a decoy.

I'd already shipped my real luggage ahead with a same-day courier.

It was already waiting for me at the airport's luggage storage.

He shot a quick glance at the suitcase. "That's all you're bringing?"

"Yeah, it's just a few days," I replied.

"Whatever, just come back soon," he said.

I slipped on my shoes and stood by the door. "I'm heading out."

"Mm-hmm." He didn't even look back at me.

All his attention was locked on the flickering figures on the TV screen.

I walked out the door.

The door closed behind me with a soft click.

I stood in the dark hallway.

I took out my set of keys.

There was the house key, the building key, and the mailbox key.

I slipped the house key off the ring.

I placed it on top of the fire extinguisher box by the door.

He would never find it there.

Now, there was one less person in this home.

I didn't look back.

I dragged my suitcase into the elevator.

The taxi cut through the night.

I went straight to the airport.

I grabbed the large suitcase I'd shipped ahead and picked it up from storage.

Then I checked in for my flight to the city where my parents lived.

While I was waiting for my flight, I pulled out my phone.

I opened the chat with David.

The chat was empty.

The last thing I sent him was three days ago, asking him to pick up some Fish Sauce on his way home.

I didn't text or call him.

I just stared at it.

Then I switched my phone to airplane mode.

The plane took off.

With the roar of the engines, the city shrank into a sea of twinkling lights.

It kept getting smaller and smaller.

Finally, it was swallowed up by the clouds.

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

Three years of marriage.

All those moments I used to think were sweet and warm.

Now, looking back, they just felt like a bunch of carefully staged lies.

He treated me well.

He bought me breakfast, picked me up from work when it rained, and even remembered my period.

I remembered all of it.

But next to that 468,000 dollars, all those gestures felt so cheap.

They seemed worthless.

He didn't love me.

He was just keeping a hassle-free, free roommate around.

A roommate who cooked, cleaned, never spent his money, and even chipped in with my own salary.

*****

The plane landed.

It was one in the morning.

My parents were waiting for me at the exit.

When my mom saw me, she froze for a second. "Why are you back all of a sudden? And why are you dragging so much luggage?"

"Work's sending me to Sylvaria for half a year. I just wanted to come home and see you both before I go," I said.

"Sylvaria? That's great news!" My dad was all smiles. "What about David?"

"He's busy. Couldn't make it," I replied.

I didn't want them to know about all the mess behind the scenes.

At least, not right now.

When I got home, I took a shower.

I lay down on the bed I'd grown up sleeping in.

I slipped a new SIM card into my phone.

With my new number, I set up all my apps again.

I pulled out the old SIM card.

I tucked it into an envelope, along with the key ring, minus the house key.

I'd send that envelope to David before heading to Sylvaria.

That would be my last farewell.

By the time I finished, it was almost dawn.

I wasn't tired at all.

I started mapping out every detail of my life for the next six months.

Work, study, and getting my finances in order.

I was determined to make up for every single day I'd wasted over the past three years.

As for David and Linda, I couldn't help but wonder what the look on their faces would be when they realized that their 'sensible' daughter-in-law had disappeared, along with her salary card.

I bet it'll be a real show.