I Found a One-Way Ticket to Freedom

In our five years of marriage, my husband, Derrick Wickham, bails on me 99 times for his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Harson.

This time, after he stands me up, I find two plane tickets to Frantines in his office.

"I was planning to surprise you for our anniversary. Since you've already seen them, we'll just meet at the airport," he says icily.

I eagerly pack and get myself ready, arriving early at the airport. I wait from the wee hours of dawn till the late hours of night, but Derrick fails to show up.

Then, I see a post on Jessica's social media. "It's my birthday today. Though he doesn't have the time to go on a trip with me to Frantines, I forgive him because he brought me to the amusement park instead!"

In the past, I'd have called him, crying and demanding answers. But this time, I'm truly done.

The airport was freezing cold at night, and it was pouring heavily outside.

Jessica's post on social media ruffled my feathers to no end. I gripped my phone tightly, resisting the urge to throw it.

This was the 99th time Derrick had stood me up.

An uncontrollable tremble ran through me. The last trace of hope in my heart had utterly vanished.

Just a week ago, Derrick had publicly abandoned me at a banquet, exposing me to ridicule and scorn, all because Jessica had been locked out of her house.

As the banquet had been held in a remote place, a close friend of mine had to come a long way to pick me up and send me home after it was over.

I had been angry at Derrick for a long time because of that. That was, until I saw two tickets to Frantines in his office.

When I discovered them, he said coldly, "I was planning to surprise you for our anniversary. Since you've already seen them, we'll just meet at the airport."

I knew he was just trying to placate me. Every time he broke a promise to me because of Jessica, he would get me a gift. And foolishly, I fell for it every time. I was always easily swayed and quick to forgive him.

But this time, all I felt was endless weariness.

Outside the airport, the storm raged, making me sneeze uncontrollably. The place was nearly empty, and I had to offer double the fare on the ride-hailing app before finally getting a driver at 1:00 am.

…

When I returned home and turned on the light, I was startled to see Derrick sitting silently in the living room.

With his arms crossed, he demanded none too kindly, "Where have you been, staying out so late?"

I wasn't in the mood to answer him, so I pulled my luggage upstairs on my own. After waiting all day at the airport, I was completely exhausted.

Enraged by my silence, Derrick grabbed my wrist. "Answer me!" he demanded.

I looked at his hand holding mine and