Chapter 8

I stared at those two words, and it felt like someone jammed an ice pick right through my chest, but instead of pain, all I felt was a numb kind of relief settling in.

Turned out, to him, "divorce" was just another weapon he could throw around whenever he felt like it, just to make me back down and do what he wanted.

Did he really think I loved him so much I'd lose myself, that I'd put up with anything, even him bringing Lily along on our honeymoon and always putting her before me?

Was that why he thought he could wave the word "divorce" in my face whenever he wanted, expecting me to freak out and come crawling back, like I always did before?

I slowly typed out my reply, one word at a time, my fingers cold against the screen.

Me: [Consequences? What consequences? Losing a wife who always put you first, but was always second to Lily in your eyes? If that's what it means, then honestly, I'm good with it.

[I'll have the divorce papers ready and waiting for your signature when you get back.]

I hit send.

Then, without a second thought, I set his chat app to Do Not Disturb.

I didn't block him. Real letting go isn't about dramatically deleting or blocking someone; it was just letting his name sat there, totally dead to me.

As for the calls and messages from my mom and Kaiya, I wasn't ready to deal with them yet.

I needed time, I needed space, and I needed to sort out this tangled mess inside me first.

My food arrived.

The crispy pork was golden and crunchy, glazed in a sweet-and-sour sauce that smelled incredible. The stir-fried trio of veggies looked glossy and bright: potatoes soft and creamy, eggplant rich and full of flavor, bell peppers crisp and refreshing.

I picked up a piece of crispy pork and took a bite. The outside was perfectly crunchy, the inside tender, and the sweet-and-sour flavor instantly woke up my taste buds.

The warm food slid down my throat and settled in my stomach, making me feel genuinely comforted, like a real warmth spreading inside.

Turned out that food really could heal my heart, even if it was just a little bit.

I started eating slowly, really savoring every bite.

I tried not to think about Michael, Lily, all the drama of my marriage, or whatever storms might be waiting for me.

Right now, all I wanted was to fill my stomach and let myself feel the real, unfamiliar warmth of this new city.

After eating, I felt much warmer, and my spirits lifted a bit. I started walking slowly down Central Avenue.

Under my feet were the old cobblestones, and on both sides of the street stood those exotic, European-style buildings. Even wrapped in the freezing cold, the place still had that heavy, historic vibe.

There were plenty of people out, all bundled up tight, their breath turning into little clouds in the air.

Some couples walked hand in hand, laughing and chatting sweetly; families wandered around, making a lively scene; and then there were solo travelers like me, just quietly walking and taking it all in.

Was I lonely?

A little, maybe.

But more than that, I felt a kind of brutal clarity I'd never known before.

I made my way to the river.

The river was completely frozen over, and the thick ice was packed with all kinds of winter fun: ice slides, ice bikes, dog sleds, you name it.

Laughter and chatter drifted over from the crowd, the whole place buzzing with energy.

As the sun dipped low, it painted the ice in a warm, golden-red glow, casting the city skyline in the distance in a soft light, a surreal scene where cold and warmth somehow coexisted.

I found a quiet spot, leaned against the railing by the river, and just stared out at the endless expanse of ice, lost in thought.

My phone buzzed again.