Love on Borrowed Time

I didn't really understand what Max had been thinking lately, and I didn't want to.

I began moving my things out bit by bit, careful not to draw his attention.

But he still noticed.

One day, after a meeting, Max took the initiative to invite me to sit in his office for a while.

No sooner had I sat down than he asked, "You've moved a lot of your things out recently. And you haven't been staying at home, either."

I nodded and gave him a reason I had prepared long ago.

"Yeah. I'm staying at the old house for a while."

Max hesitated. He looked uncertain. "I've thought about the wedding for a long time. We could still redo it…"

I cut him off. "There's no need. There isn't much time left, anyway."

He looked startled. "What do you mean, not much time left?"

I hesitated and wondered if I should just show him the already-signed divorce settlement agreement.

Sandra's phone call came at exactly the right time.

I glanced at the name on his screen and smiled. "You should go take care of that first. We don't need to discuss this right now."

Max turned the doorknob. As if to make up for it, he looked back and made another promise. "I'll definitely go to the old house to see you tomorrow."

The next day, he still broke that promise.

I sat on the couch in the old house with my head lowered. I stared at my phone.

There were twelve hours left for the countdown.

A local news notification popped up.

Sandra appeared at the launch of a new project. Max stood behind her.

Recalling the promise he had made just yesterday, I snorted.

If he knew these were the last twelve hours of our marriage, would he still have broken his promise?

Maybe not, or maybe he still would have.

Either way, the answer no longer mattered.

I spent a few hours tidying up the house.

The old place was empty. There really wasn't much of my stuff left.

It was just that we had gotten married here, and I couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

I called my partner. I had already told her in advance, but I still said goodbye.

Then, I called my lawyer. "The divorce settlement agreement was notarized a month ago. I don't need to go through any additional procedures now, do I?"

The lawyer's reply was simple.

"No."

After a short pause, he congratulated me.

"Congratulations, Ms. Carroll."

I chuckled and hung up.

I stayed there in silence until nightfall.

Three hours left for the countdown. I packed all my luggage and bought a plane ticket for the next day.

Two hours left for the countdown. I cut every photo of the two of us, leaving only myself in the album.

One hour left for the countdown. I neatly placed the divorce settlement agreement on the table.

I thought about leaving a note. In the end, I decided against it.

Instead, I kept the words to myself.

"Honey, this is the last time I'll call you that. I have secretly loved you for ten years. Loving someone for ten years is hard. In the end, I chose to let go. Congratulations to you, and congratulations to me."

Dragging my suitcase, I placed my hand on the doorknob at the exact moment the countdown ended.

My marriage was over.

However, I never expected the door to open from the outside.

Max stood there, sweat on his forehead. He had clearly just gotten back from running. He was slightly out of breath, the guilt still visible in his smile.

"I'm sorry, Nicole. I just finished dropping someone off…"

His voice cut off abruptly as his gaze landed on my luggage and the plane ticket in my hand.

"Where are you going?"