She Bet I’d Never Leave—So I Did

She Bet I’d Never Leave—So I Did

Author: Lori Joseph

Chapter 5: Letting Go, Moving Forward

When I moved out of the apartment we shared, Shawna suddenly messaged me.

[Not even a call? Didn’t miss me?]

She was traveling with Sam Choi.

Said she wanted to show the kid the world.

[Behave.]

She texted again.

Then a photo.

[This place is nice. Should I bring you here for our third anniversary, too?]

I really wanted to block her, just like I did with Sam Choi.

But then I remembered I still had to go to the courthouse to pick up the final decree, so I let it go.

For the next two weeks, I dealt with my stocks and funds. Some small jewelry. Watches.

Then I organized all the assets Shawna had given me to manage over the years.

The night before the courthouse visit, Shawna came back.

She called me.

"Jack, you moved out?"

She was used to my silence on the phone, so she just laughed to herself.

"Jack, you’re too cute."

"Told you, it’s just for show."

She paused, her tone bright. "So, let’s keep up the act. Tomorrow, come with me to the courthouse and pick up the divorce decree?"

I held my phone.

"Jack, don’t worry, it’s just—"

"Okay," I said.

Whoa—

There was a burst of noise on her end.

I hung up.

Sent the time to her by Messenger.

The next morning, I got up early.

Shawna showed up late.

Probably Sam Choi’s doing. There was a faint bite mark on her lip.

She acted like nothing happened.

So did I.

The process was even smoother than last time.

It took less than five minutes.

"Jack, I’ll give you a surprise tomorrow."

Shawna lightly kicked my calf.

I put away the divorce decree. "Shawna, are you free tonight?"

I looked at her. "There’s something I want to tell you."

Shawna was startled.

Since we got married, I’d always called her "wife."

The next second, she smiled, waving the stamped paperwork in her hand.

"Sure."

No matter how Shawna was this past year,

I didn’t want to deny the Shawna of the past.

I was grateful for her years of companionship, for all the care she’d given me.

So I never planned to just leave without a word.

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