One Step Too Far

On the day we got our marriage license, Sonia Gray told me that if we ever slept in separate rooms for more than a week, it meant we had silently agreed to divorce.

Every time we got into a fight, she would grab her pillow and run to the other room. And every time, I was the one who had to back down, lower my head, and apologize.

She used that threat to keep me wrapped around her pinky for three years.

It was my 28th birthday. Once again, she missed our date because of the intern at her workplace. When she came home, she extended diamond cufflinks to me. I did not take it.

Sonia frowned at me for a while before saying coldly, "You have a birthday every year. He doesn't get a second life. This isn't a game. I came back as fast as I could after taking Chris to the hospital. Stop throwing a tantrum. How controlling can you be? You're a monster."

She went right into the guest room.

This time, I did not go after her.

Not Relenting Again

Sonia slammed the door shut like usual. Of course, she did it on purpose.

She wanted me to give in and ask for peace. But this time, I stayed seated, quiet as stone. I did not cry or become anxious like I used to.

I was tired of living life this way. I did nothing wrong, but every time, I was forced to beg for forgiveness. The air-conditioning was turned up high, but the ice-cream cake on the coffee table was still beginning to melt.

Just like this marriage.

No matter how much I tried, the cracks never healed. Instead, they grew bigger and more numerous. I scooped up a small dollop of ice cream and put it into my mouth. The sweetness did nothing to wash away the bitterness flooding my heart.

We had been married for three years.

In the first year, she stayed at her company, helping Chris Shaw amend his proposal while leaving me alone on my birthday. In the second year, she went to the neighboring city with Chris on a work trip. That day had also been my birthday.

Now she left me alone standing in the rain just because Chris called her over.

I was staring blankly into space when the guest room door suddenly opened. She approached me, and my heart skipped a beat.

A bit of ice cream stuck to the corners of my mouth. Sonia let out a resigned sigh and wiped it off with a tissue.

"I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean what I said. Yes, I know you hate it when I get too close to him. I promise I'll try my best to keep communication with Chris strictly tied to work."

All the unfairness and hurt I had kept bottled up suddenly surged to the surface. My eyes reddened.

For the first time in three years, she was the one taking a