Shattered Bonds Between Us

Even up to the day of my father's burial, Marcus never once made the time to come.

All I heard were my father's last words as he held my hand before closing his eyes for the final time. "Marcus is a good man. He serves the country, so it's only right that he's busy. I don't blame him. Don't go back and start fights with him."

'But, Father, Marcus isn't busy with the military. He's busy keeping Julia company.'

I wiped away my tears, washed the bowls and chopsticks, and put everything neatly away.

The countdown to leaving had begun.

Six days left.

Day One.

I went alone to Colonel David Grant's office. He was Marcus' superior.

"Here's my divorce application with Marcus Hale. I hope the organization can approve it quickly," I said.

At that time, military personnel were required to submit a formal application to their superior officers for both marriage and divorce.

David's hand paused halfway as he lifted his cup. He immediately set it down and picked up the papers, reading carefully. When his eyes landed on the handwritten signatures from both Marcus and me, he let out a long sigh.

"You and Marcus always seemed so good together. How did it come to divorce?"

Yes. How did it come to this?

We had been introduced through a matchmaker. He was a promising young Captain at Fort Haven, and I was a gentle, kind elementary school teacher. Everyone said we were well matched.

However, ever since Julia returned, all I ever heard was: "Captain Hale really treats Miss Summers well."

I shook my head, pushing aside the thoughts clouding my mind. Then, I answered David's question, "Sir, you can't force matters of the heart. We just want to part peacefully."

He said nothing more and just placed the application into a drawer. "Come back in a couple of days to pick it up."

Leaving the office, I walked to the store near Fort Haven.

As soon as I reached the counter, my eyes landed on the shelf stacked with vanilla lotion. Five years of marriage, and I had never been willing to spend money on a single bottle for myself.

Noticing my gaze, Linda Hayes, the store clerk, chuckled and teased, "Just a few days ago, I saw Captain Hale buy five or six jars of vanilla lotion. Already gone through them all? Ms. Wilder, your husband treats you well."

My hand holding the item went rigid.

A few days ago, I wasn't even at home, and Marcus had never once given me vanilla lotion.

I thought of the scent I had smelled on him last night. My heart knew the truth: the vanilla lotion was for Julia.

Five years of managing his household, of laundry and cooking had never earned me a single bottle.

Julia's return earned her five or six.

I couldn't tell whether the greater weight inside me was grief or anger. Meeting Linda's envious smile, I said, "Give me a bottle. I'll buy it myself."

Day Five.

I picked up the approved divorce papers from David. Then I went straight to the school where I was teaching to hand in my resignation.

The semester hadn't yet started, so the office wasn't crowded.

When I reached my desk to pack my things, I found my notebook buried under a pile of items that weren't mine; they were stacked so high that every inch of space was taken.

My own notebook was crushed at the very bottom. By the time I pulled it out, it was so badly pressed that the creases would never smooth out.

A teacher at the neighboring desk leaned over and explained, "All that stuff belongs to the new Miss Summers. Captain Hale personally moved it in while you were gone. He said better to use the space than leave it empty."

That "Miss Summers" was Julia.

Just a month ago, she had divorced her husband and come back to Fairview City. Now she was working here as a substitute, just a temp teacher.

I gave a short, bitter laugh and pushed all of her things onto the floor before continuing to pack my own.

I was nearly done when a startled gasp came from the doorway.

Julia stood there, and behind her was Marcus.

"Marcus, look," Julia said, her voice trembling with indignation. "My things are on the floor!"

Marcus stepped forward, and the first words out of his mouth were blame.

"Clara, it’s just some stuff. Since when did you become so petty?"

Julia tugged at Marcus’s sleeve, her voice soft and pitiful as she said, "I’m sorry, Clara. I only thought that since you weren’t here these past few days, I’d borrow the space for a while. I didn’t expect it to upset you... I didn’t mean for my things to end up on the floor."

She even moved as if to bow to me.

Marcus immediately caught her, his eyes sharp and cold. "Clara, don’t go too far. Julia didn’t do it on purpose. That’s enough."

How many times had he gotten angry with me because of Julia? I couldn’t even count anymore.

I refused to play any part in their drama. Hugging my box, I walked straight out, but as I passed Julia, a foot shot out and caught me.

Marcus’s gaze sharpened, his hand moving instinctively to grab me, but it was already too late.

I crashed to the floor. The contents of the box scattered everywhere, and my wrist scraped hard against the ground.

Marcus stepped quickly toward me, his hand reaching out. Then, as if catching sight of something, he bent and picked up two sheets of paper from the mess.

"A resignation letter? And this..."

I scrambled to my feet, snatching the papers from his hands in a panic. "I’ll clean this up myself. Don’t mess with my things."

Stunned by how fiercely I reacted, Marcus stared at me. "You’re resigning?"

My lips parted, but no words came. Before I could think of an answer, Marcus gave a sudden laugh. "If you resign, won’t that leave an open position? If Julia gets hired full-time, at least she’ll have a proper job. That’ll put me at ease."

The words I had been ready to explain froze on my tongue. I looked at him deeply once, then didn’t bother picking up the rest of my belongings. I walked straight out of the office.

After submitting my resignation, I unexpectedly ran into Marcus waiting at the school gate, my box in his hands.

When he saw me, he pressed his lips together and handed it over. "Your stuff."

My expression softened, and I was just about to thank him when he continued, "Could you write Julia a recommendation letter? It’ll give her a better chance of being hired full-time."

A gust of wind blew past, stinging my eyes as if filled with sand. I rubbed at the soreness in my gaze and said quietly, "Alright."

Let that be the last payment for the years of our marriage.

Satisfied with my answer, Marcus’s lips curved. Then something else occurred to him, and he asked, "And what about you? What’s your next job?"

I turned my head away, answering carelessly, "Another teaching position at a different school."

Marcus nodded, as if relieved. He set the box down and pulled me into his arms. "Clara, marrying you has been my greatest fortune. When I finish this busy stretch, I’ll take you home, and we’ll have a proper drink with Father."

I leaned against his chest, my heart twisting painfully.

It was too late. Everything was already too late.

Before Marcus could say more, Julia walked up to us. "Marcus, I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home."

I caught the flush in her cheeks, her face rosy and healthy. Without a word, I stepped out of Marcus’s embrace.

Just as I expected, he released me instantly, panic flashing across his face. "I’ll take Julia home first. We can talk later."

He wrapped an arm carefully around Julia, holding her as if she were the most fragile treasure.

I didn’t stop them. Instead, I crouched, lifted the box again, and on my way past the trash can, tossed it inside. I no longer wanted anything that Marcus had touched.

On my final day, I prepared a full table of food to bid farewell to my friends. Most of them were Marcus’s comrades.

As I brought out the last dish, their rowdy voices rose in a chorus of cheers.

"Captain Hale, why don't you and Miss Summers feed each other a drink?"

"Yeah, come on!"

Julia sat beside Marcus, her cheeks flushed pink.

"Don't mess around. Marcus already has a wife."

A laugh cut through the room. "Who are you kidding? If Julia hadn't married someone else back then, Marcus wouldn't have given up on himself and gone to that matchmaking meeting. Besides, Clara's not even here."

The dish in my hands was steaming hot, but it felt colder than ice.

Once, these same men had treated me with respect and warmth. Now, their words made me sick.

Marcus slammed his glass down harder than he meant to, his face darkening as he prepared to speak.

Just then, I stepped out, coughing lightly, and set the food on the table. "Let's eat."

I smiled faintly and pulled out a chair to sit on.

However, Marcus suddenly noticed something, his brows knitting together. "Why are there so many dishes Julia doesn't like?"

Julia waved her hand gently, her voice soft. "It's fine, I'll just eat the vegetables. Clara, I didn't mean anything by that," she added, though her eyes brimmed with tears.

Marcus stood abruptly, irritation clear on his face. "I'll take you to the restaurant."

"Wait." My voice cut through the room. I picked up the wine on the table and poured myself a glass.

Marcus stared at me in shock. In five years of marriage, I had never once drunk alcohol in front of him.

"Julia, this is for you." The liquor burned down my throat, choking me until I coughed again and again.

Marcus's brows drew tight. He reached out to pat my back.

Instinctively, I stepped aside, hiding the tears threatening to fall.

His hand froze midair, and his face hardened.

"Clara, you're impossible," he snapped and left with Julia.

The rest of his comrades exchanged awkward glances, then got up and left as well.

I sat alone in the courtyard and finished the meal by myself.

Four hours remained before the train left.

I harvested all the vegetables in the garden and handed them to the neighbors on both sides.

Three hours remained before the train left.

I washed the dishes, then laid the divorce papers and the half-used jar of vanilla lotion on the table.

Two hours remained before the train left.

I picked up my luggage and boarded the military truck. Ben Carter, the young soldier driving, glanced back at me. "Mrs. Hale, heading home again? How long this time?"

I passed him a few fruit candies and smiled. "I don't know. Maybe forever."

Thinking I was joking, he grinned and took the sweets. "Then when you come back, tell Captain Hale to let me know. I'll come pick you up again."

I nodded, but in my heart, I whispered, "There won't be a next time."

At eight that night, Marcus returned with Julia and the same comrades from earlier. They entered together, laughing and carrying takeout food.

"Mrs. Hale, we're back!" Jake Miller shouted as he stepped inside. Seeing the house dark, he fumbled to switch on the lights.

"She must've gone out." Scratching his head, he set the food down on the table.

Then his gaze caught on the papers resting there. He froze, picked them up instinctively, and stammered out, "Captain Hale… Mrs. Hale left you a letter. It's… it's a divorce agreement…"