Dark skies cast their shadow on the trees, buildings and fields as a mild discomfort rose in Rob’s chest. He had just officiated the most difficult match of his career. A mild thunder shook the skies as a brand-new Ford zoomed into the parking lot of the football stadium. Rose, his wife of 10 years, got out of the passenger seat. She smiled happily and waved at him. Hope filled Rob’s heart. Had she changed her mind? His face fell as he saw a stack of papers in her hands. Rob had felt that love and companionship were good enough for a successful marriage, but she had different aspirations.
‘’I am sorry to come here, Rob. But we are leaving tonight and I need them signed.’’
He watched Rose as she hummed and signed the divorce papers.
‘’Here, your turn now.’’ She smiled and beckoned to him as if inviting a child to have his share of toffee.
She patted her belly, thanking God that Rob had finally agreed to end their ‘unproductive’ relationship. Rob signed wherever she pointed, the discomfort in his chest turning into an ache.
‘’We are free at last,’’ she said, looking fondly at her ‘new life’ waiting patiently for her in the shining Ford.
Rose carefully collected the papers. ‘’Rob, stay in touch, okay? Call me if you need anything.’’ She concluded without disclosing her new contact number or location. Rob smiled back patiently, waiting for her to leave. He wanted to return to the melancholy and loneliness that had become his life now. Anything better than her fake new self. He knew that he would never need her for anything anymore. Rose walked away, her heels clanking in his locker room, stamping his decade of love.
She opened the windows of the car and waved to him as the skies began to pour. Rob mustered a last grin that reached his eyes and waved back as his chest pain turned severe.
‘’I am sorry to come here, Rob. But we are leaving tonight and I need them signed.’’
He watched Rose as she hummed and signed the divorce papers.
‘’Here, your turn now.’’ She smiled and beckoned to him as if inviting a child to have his share of toffee.
She patted her belly, thanking God that Rob had finally agreed to end their ‘unproductive’ relationship. Rob signed wherever she pointed, the discomfort in his chest turning into an ache.
‘’We are free at last,’’ she said, looking fondly at her ‘new life’ waiting patiently for her in the shining Ford.
Rose carefully collected the papers. ‘’Rob, stay in touch, okay? Call me if you need anything.’’ She concluded without disclosing her new contact number or location. Rob smiled back patiently, waiting for her to leave. He wanted to return to the melancholy and loneliness that had become his life now. Anything better than her fake new self. He knew that he would never need her for anything anymore. Rose walked away, her heels clanking in his locker room, stamping his decade of love.
She opened the windows of the car and waved to him as the skies began to pour. Rob mustered a last grin that reached his eyes and waved back as his chest pain turned severe.
