It was Mark, looking at me with a strange
expression, like he was remembering
く
something. I stopped smiling and changed my
clothes. “You looked nice. Why did you
change?” he asked. It was the first thing he’d
said to me since I got back. It was ironic. We
lived under the same roof, but we were
strangers. Strangely, he’d been staying home
more lately. Even when Sarah came to the
door – several times he didn’t always go.
–
Well, he still went about once every three
times. Sarah’s game was slipping. But it didn’t
matter to me. I ignored him and left. I’d
rented a storefront on a busy street. The stall
was too small for all my merchandise. The
new space was perfect. I signed a three–year
lease. Best of all, it had a small back room,
which I divided. One side for storage, the
other for a bed.
When I got back, Mark was packing New
Year’s gifts, ready to visit his parents. In the
<
past, we’d clean the house and put up
decorations before going to his family’s. I
hadn’t been home, but he’d already put up the
decorations. Looking at the gifts, I decided to
clear the air. “I don’t think I’ll go this year. I’m
too busy,” I began, but a knock interrupted
- me. “I’ll… I’ll get it,” Mark said, his face pale
as he rushed to the door. “Mark, honey, I’m.
so glad you’re still here! I… I can’t put up the
decorations by myself. Could you…” “No, I’m
busy. Ask someone else.” Mark’s hand
gripped the doorframe, his knuckles white. He
glanced at me, his expression hard. Sarah
looked surprised. Then, her eyes filled with
tears. “Mark, honey, did… did Lucy say
something? I can explain.” She turned to me.
“Lucy, please don’t fight with Mark. It’s all my
fault, I…” “I said no. I don’t have time. Do you
understand?” Mark’s voice was sharp. He
pushed her out the door. “Leave. And don’t
く
come back.” I heard the door slam,
separating the star–crossed lovers. I shook.
my head and went back to my inventory list.
I didn’t go to Mark’s parents‘ house. When his
mother called, I said I was too busy. She
asked when I’d visit. I didn’t answer. She
sighed and hung up. After the holidays,
business boomed. I hired a salesgirl after my
next trip to Atlanta. Things were running
smoothly, better than ever. When I expanded
to five storefronts, turning my business into a
wholesale operation, I booked a flight to D.C.
The night before I left, I cooked a special
dinner and waited for Mark. He’d been
coming home late, avoiding me. But I was
patient. I waited until after midnight. He finally
came home. Seeing the food, he sat down.
silently across from me.
く
Looking at his still–handsome face, I saw the
man I’d married two years ago. His cousin
had introduced us. I’d been hesitant. Mark
came from a good family, he was handsome
and had a good job. Plenty of girls were
interested in him. But somehow, we ended up
married. I thought I was lucky, a way out of
my family’s suffocating preference for sons.
We were happy, at first. But after David died,
everything changed. People told me all men
were like that. That plenty of women would
be happy to take my place. But I was
determined to leave. “Let’s get a divorce,” I
said. Mark looked up sharply. He covered his
face with his hands, tears dripping onto the
floor. “Lucy, I’m so sorry,” he choked out. I
was suddenly grateful we didn’t have children.
With or without a divorce, it would have been
a tragedy.
We went to the courthouse before my trip. Holding the divorce certificate, I felt a sense of relief. The pain, the disappointment… it didn’t matter anymore. It was over.
Outside the courthouse, I rolled my suitcase away from him,“Lucy!” he called. I stopped.
“Lucy, I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes red-
rimmed. He still didn’t understand how
everything had fallen apart.
I turned my back to him, waved, and walked
away. My life was just beginning.
