12
Gavin stood there, head tilted back, his clothes wrinkled and worn.
A cigarette dangled from his fingers, the smoke swirling around his face, obscuring
everything, but the deep worry etched between his brows.
It had been a while since I’d last seen him, and both he and Barry looked significantly thinner- as if a gust of wind could knock them over.
pretended not to notice them and made to walk past, but Gavin stepped in front of me. “Freya, you’re finally back.”
13:06 Tue, 24 Dec M.
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as if a gust of wind could knock them over.
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I pretended not to notice them and made to walk past, but Gavin stepped in front of me.
“Freya, you’re finally back.”
His voice held a myriad of emotions.
I couldn’t waste any more time. “Is there something you need?”
He forced a wry smile, one that spoke of heartache and regret. “Is there really no chance for us anymore?”
I turned my gaze to the horizon, answering flatly, “Gavin, it’s over. We’ve been done for a long
me.”
This man had been the center of my world for ten years, and yet, now that I had found clarity, my heart felt as calm as a still pond. Loving him seemed like a distant memory as if it belonged to another lifetime.
A tear slipped from the corner of Gavin’s eye, and he parted his lips, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m I
sorry. I’ve wronged you all these years. I know I don’t deserve your love anymore, but there’s no one else in this world who could ever care for me like you did. I can’t let you go.” Freya, I’m begging you. Can we just stay together?”
In the past, I would have been heartbroken to see him cry, but now, I felt nothing but annoyance. I laughed softly, creating space between us. “There’s no point. I can’t force myself to feel something that’s not there. Let’s just part ways on good terms, okay?”
I turned my attention to Barry, wanting to finalize everything. “After the divorce, we’ll really sever our mother–son ties. I promise I won’t burden you with taking care of me when I’m old.”
I exhaled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.
Barry shook his head vigorously, tears in his eyes, begging, “No, Mom! I don’t want to cut ties with you!”
Gavin lowered his head, wiping away tears, his voice barely audible. “So, you really don’t want us anymore.”
As the sun dipped low in the sky, I turned my back and walked away, feeling no longing for what we once had.
In the end, Gavin signed the papers, and we divorced.
The days that followed were filled with a simple routine, and I completely focused on my work. Life became uncomplicated, bringing me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in ages.
Then, on an ordinary day, I overheard someone talking about how Gavin had fallen into depression, attempting suicide at home, and now he was in a vegetative state.
Barry, overwhelmed with shock, had fallen from the stairs and broken his leg.
And that woman, Lisa, had vanished without a trace overnight.
I smiled to myself, not bothering to respond. I simply didn’t care.
The warm sunlight bathed me as I looked up, a reminder that my life was moving forward, and it was shining bright.
The End
