Shattered Bonds Between Us

"Captain Hale, why don't you and Miss Summers feed each other a drink?"

"Yeah, come on!"

Julia sat beside Marcus, her cheeks flushed pink.

"Don't mess around. Marcus already has a wife."

A laugh cut through the room. "Who are you kidding? If Julia hadn't married someone else back then, Marcus wouldn't have given up on himself and gone to that matchmaking meeting. Besides, Clara's not even here."

The dish in my hands was steaming hot, but it felt colder than ice.

Once, these same men had treated me with respect and warmth. Now, their words made me sick.

Marcus slammed his glass down harder than he meant to, his face darkening as he prepared to speak.

Just then, I stepped out, coughing lightly, and set the food on the table. "Let's eat."

I smiled faintly and pulled out a chair to sit on.

However, Marcus suddenly noticed something, his brows knitting together. "Why are there so many dishes Julia doesn't like?"

Julia waved her hand gently, her voice soft. "It's fine, I'll just eat the vegetables. Clara, I didn't mean anything by that," she added, though her eyes brimmed with tears.

Marcus stood abruptly, irritation clear on his face. "I'll take you to the restaurant."

"Wait." My voice cut through the room. I picked up the wine on the table and poured myself a glass.

Marcus stared at me in shock. In five years of marriage, I had never once drunk alcohol in front of him.

"Julia, this is for you." The liquor burned down my throat, choking me until I coughed again and again.

Marcus's brows drew tight. He reached out to pat my back.

Instinctively, I stepped aside, hiding the tears threatening to fall.

His hand froze midair, and his face hardened.

"Clara, you're impossible," he snapped and left with Julia.

The rest of his comrades exchanged awkward glances, then got up and left as well.

I sat alone in the courtyard and finished the meal by myself.

Four hours remained before the train left.

I harvested all the vegetables in the garden and handed them to the neighbors on both sides.

Three hours remained before the train left.

I washed the dishes, then laid the divorce papers and the half-used jar of vanilla lotion on the table.

Two hours remained before the train left.

I picked up my luggage and boarded the military truck. Ben Carter, the young soldier driving, glanced back at me. "Mrs. Hale, heading home again? How long this time?"

I passed him a few fruit candies and smiled. "I don't know. Maybe forever."

Thinking I was joking, he grinned and took the sweets. "Then when you come back, tell Captain Hale to let me know. I'll come pick you up again."

I nodded, but in my heart, I whispered, "There won't be a next time."

At eight that night, Marcus returned with Julia and the same comrades from earlier. They entered together, laughing and carrying takeout food.

"Mrs. Hale, we're back!" Jake Miller shouted as he stepped inside. Seeing the house dark, he fumbled to switch on the lights.

"She must've gone out." Scratching his head, he set the food down on the table.

Then his gaze caught on the papers resting there. He froze, picked them up instinctively, and stammered out, "Captain Hale… Mrs. Hale left you a letter. It's… it's a divorce agreement…"