3
The smiles vanished from their four faces:
Patrick pointed a finger at me. “Are you serious? Always blowing things out of proportion! He’s your son! Who else would you give it
to?”
My mother–in–law’s words were laced with poison. “She must have a lover on the side. You can take the girl out of the sticks, but you can’t take the sticks out of the girl!”
f’d heard those words countless times in my past life. Each time, they brought me to tears. But I endured it all, just so my son could have a complete family.
have a complete family.
In the end, my endurance became a joke.
If that’s the case, why should I endure anything anymore?
“Cut the crap. Are we getting a divorce or not?”
Just as Patrick was about to speak, Daniel leaped to his feet, pointing and screaming at me.
“To hell with you, you old hag! Divorce! Dad, divorce her! What’s the big deal about one stupid ticket? If you can get one, don’t you think Dad can? Or Grandma?”
His nostrils flared with rage, his eyes like a wolf’s, burning with fury.
Ever since he could remember, he’d said things like this. His dad was a sales manager who made good money. His grandparents were retired teachers, educated people. I was the only one from a small town with a community college degree, uncultured and empty–headed.
All four of them treated my years of devotion as if they were nothing.
I always thought, It’ll be better when he’s older. It’ll be better when he sees the world. Then he would understand how much I’d done for him.
So, in my past life, I used this ticket to send him out to see that wider world.
In the end, all i got in return was to be sent to a rundown building, to live out my final days in a semi–basement studio apartment.
How pathetic.
Hearing his words again, I didn’t argue. I just nodded. “Of course. They’re so capable, they can definitely get one.”
The expressions on the other three changed. They looked like they wanted to say something but couldn’t.
I took a deep breath. “Marital assets, fifty–fifty split. You get custody of the child. That’s it.”
I walked into the bedroom to pack my things, not wanting to stay a second longer.
Daniel was still shouting outside.
My in–laws were coddling him like a little emperor, and their method of comfort was to tear me down.
“Mommy is vicious, Mommy is bad. She’ll get what’s coming to her. Don’t be angry, Danny, it’s not good for you.”
“Your mom would never leave you. She’s just saying that. You’re her only child. How could she survive without you? A small–town woman like her, so old–fashioned, she can’t make it on her own.”
Daniel was still yelling. “I just don’t want her as my mom! Damn it, can’t she just go die?”
A pang of pain still shot through my heart.
By the time I had packed two large suitcases, it was quiet outside.
Patrick opened the door.
Hands in his pockets, he looked down at me with a smirk. “Putting on a good show, aren’t you? Fine, you want to act? Let’s go. We’ll go get divorced right now.”
I pulled out my ID and marriage certificate. “Let’s go.”
His smile froze
You want a divorce? Fine. You leave with nothing, and I’ll sign. How about that?”
1332
I laughed. “Oh, so you don’t want me to leave after all. You’re just trying to provoke me into staying?”
“Me, not want you to leave? What a joke! Where would you even go without us? Fifty–fifty, you said? Fine! I’ll give it to you! Don’t you
dare back down now!”
