Leave Me Alone, Ex-husband

The delay in signing the divorce papers.

The shopping was done quickly. It seemed like George was rushing as if he couldn’t wait to get out of the mall.

I didn’t like to follow them like an outsider. So, I am relieved when we come out.

"Megan, I won’t be able to drop you home," George says. "Can you please take a taxi?"

This is surprising. I was not expecting him to say that. I anticipated that he would drop her off at her place first before taking me to the hospital.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if he did that because I didn’t want to go for a check-up with him. But he actually asked Megan to leave on her own.

I curiously peer at her, who has a sullen look on her face.

Megan is certainly unhappy, and I know she is going to nag him to take her home first.

"It’s okay. I will take a taxi. You should look after Vivian."

I am stunned yet again. I can clearly tell that she is not happy, but she is smiling.

She is trying to show her empathy.

I don’t need that. I am irritated and too lazy to see all this drama, so I hop into the car.

George stops a taxi for her and opens the door for her. Megan hugs him before stepping in.

I watch them through the wing mirror, my heart aching. I realize he has canceled his plans with Megan because of me. Truly speaking, I don’t feel good. It gives me the impression that I am a third wheel, which I don’t want to be.

He gets into the car and starts driving.

The tension between us is palpable. I can't help but fidget with my fingers, a nervous energy coursing through me. The silence weighs heavily, suffocating the space between us. It's a stark reminder of the divide that has grown between us.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I break it with an apology, my voice laced with remorse.

"I'm sorry, George. You had to cancel your plans with Megan because of me."

I can feel the weight of my presence burdening him.

"You don't need to feel sorry. Taking care of you is my responsibility. We are still married, after all."

His voice is gentle, and his expression is calm. But his response catches me off guard, his words carrying a different meaning than I anticipated.

For a moment, confusion clouds my mind.

Did he just imply that he was burdened by our marriage? That he resented the fact that we were still bound together?

The realization stings, and a mixture of hurt and resignation washes over me.

Summoning my strength, I respond with a measured tone, "Oh, I see. Well, there's no discrepancy in the divorce agreement. You can sign it whenever you want."

My words are steady and controlled as I try to maintain my composure.

But beneath my calm façade, a storm rages within me. The pain of our crumbling relationship lingers, with each passing moment a reminder of the love that once thrived between us.

"I won't forget to sign it, Vivian. You don't have to keep reminding me," he retorts, his tone filled with annoyance.

I feel my heart sink as George's voice grows louder, his frustration and impatience filling the air. I watch him closely, my eyes welling up with confusion and hurt.

His frustration seems to intensify as he continues to say, "There are other things going on right now. I have my grandmother's birthday coming up, and I need to focus on that first. You know how grandma’s condition is. Do I have to remind you that?"

His words make me even more puzzled. My mind races with questions, searching for answers. Why does his grandmother's birthday take precedence over our divorce?

I can't understand why he is avoiding the inevitable, especially when he has already started seeing someone else. It feels like he is keeping me in limbo, trapped in a state of uncertainty.

"But George," I protest, my voice trembling with a mixture of hurt and frustration, "our marriage is falling apart. Why can't we just finalize the divorce and move on with our lives?"

His eyes dim for a moment as if he is guilty. I don’t know. Why would he be guilty? Maybe I am too confused right now.

His expression hardens the next second.

"Trust me," he says, his tone tinged with impatience. "I'll sign the papers after my grandmother's birthday. Let's not talk about this right now."

A sense of unease settles within me. I can't shake the feeling that there is more to his reasons than he is letting on. The uncertainty gnaws at me, leaving me to wonder what George is truly hiding and why he is prolonging the inevitable.

As the car continues running, my mind grows more and more restless.

We finally arrive at the hospital.

My nerves escalate, anxiety coursing through my veins. I am on edge, fearing that the carefully guarded secret within me will be exposed to George. I can't let him know about the baby, especially when we are in the midst of ending our marriage. The mere thought of his reaction, the potential demands or judgments, sends shivers down my spine.

The doctor's eyes fixate on me, attentively listening as I recount the bouts of nausea and vomiting that have plagued me. I try to play it off, dismissing the symptoms as insignificant. But my facade crumbles in an instant as George interjects.

He brings up my delayed period, laying bare a piece of information I desperately wanted to keep hidden.

A wave of chills races down my spine, and I can't help but fear that he suspects the truth about my pregnancy. The room becomes heavy with unspoken tension, and I hold my breath, awaiting George's next words.

"You should undergo a test," he says.

"Yes, you should." The doctor also agrees with him.

Panic surges within me, leaving me feeling trapped and powerless against their insistence. Despite my fear and apprehension, I know I have no choice but to comply, to subject myself to the test I desperately wanted to avoid.

I nod, my face a canvas of mixed emotions—anxiety, resignation, and the weight of the unknown.

George continues to talk to the doctor as I leave for the test. My heart sinks as I contemplate how he will react. What am I going to do if he asks me to abort the child? Can he force me to do that?

If he doesn’t ask me for an abortion, he will surely take the baby from me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I wasn’t aware when the nurse finished taking blood.

I come to the waiting area in a daze, but George is nowhere to be seen.

A small glimmer of hope sparks within me, suggesting that my secret remains intact, that he won't discover my pregnancy just yet. I push aside the question of why he left abruptly, choosing not to dwell on it for now. There are more pressing matters at hand.

Despite already knowing the likely outcome of the test, I patiently wait for the report. Every passing second feels like an eternity, with anticipation and unease coiling within me. Finally, the report is placed in my hands, its contents sealed within. I quickly tuck it away, intending to read it later when I have a moment to collect my thoughts.

Just as I'm about to head to my clinic, I receive his call. Without hesitation, I answer the call, eager to hear his voice and understand the reason behind his sudden departure from the hospital.

"Grandma’s BP shoots up. She is not happy with Megan. Can you come down to the mansion and check on her?" He asks seriously, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

"Yes, I will be there shortly. But how…"

Before I can inquire about Grandmother's condition, he says, “Listen, Vivian. Things are not going well. I want you to put forward the divorce. I can’t tell Grandma that I want to marry Megan. She is already distressed and angry with Megan. But if you let her know that you want to end this marriage, things will be easy for us. I hope you can understand.”

I freeze in place, unable to process his words.

He sighs and continues, “I don’t want to delay any longer. It should be done before her birthday.”

The phone abruptly disconnects, leaving me startled and anxious.