The Day the River Stopped Singing

Tomorrow would mark the end of our divorce's cooling-off period. After that, Holly and I would truly be nothing to each other.

I was out on the balcony, tending to my little plant, when the ring slipped off my middle finger and tumbled over the edge.

Without thinking, I leaned out to grab it.

"What are you doing?!" Holly yanked me back to safety. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?!"

There was a flash of genuine concern in her eyes, as if we were still the inseparable couple we once were.

"The ring fell," I explained.

She had made that ring for me, crafted it with her own hands, and I loved it. That was why I had worn it all this time, and why I had risked so much to catch it.

Holly let out a sigh. "It's just a ring. I'll get you a new one. You shouldn't risk yourself like that."

Just a ring.

I glanced at her hand; her middle finger was empty. She had removed her ring long ago.

"Tomorrow's our anniversary," she said softly. "I'll come by, and we'll spend the day together."

When was the last time we celebrated our anniversary in full?

I nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself.

We could mark the end of our marriage with a period, and a flawless one at that.

On the day of our anniversary, I found myself alone at the restaurant we had booked ages ago.

I waited and waited, my stomach protesting its emptiness, but she never showed.

Frustrated, I whipped out my phone to text Holly. If she did not want to celebrate with me, she could have been upfront about it instead of leaving me hanging.

After a few unanswered calls, I checked my phone again and saw a post in the work group chat.

An anonymous account had written it.

[Charles is wooing the married supervisor, using his looks to get ahead. It's disgusting how he's selling himself!]

Then came the so-called evidence that the project I was leading now had Charles's name all over it.

Though the post targeted Charles, it was clearly a jab at me.

Not long after, Holly stormed in, livid.

"I thought you gave up the project willingly. You're vile, pretending to agree while you backstab and smear Charles!"

"Jim, you've stooped so low!"

Charles, right behind her, eyes reddened, apparently feeling betrayed.

"I don't need the project. I don't care what they say, but Jim, I thought we were friends. Why would you do this to me?!"

"It wasn't me," I said, keeping my cool.

"I've agreed to hand it over, and I'm not one to play dirty," I said.

"Who else would go after Charles but you?

"Jim, you're such a fake!

"And to think Charles even picked out this restaurant for us. You don't deserve it!"

In a fit of rage, her face flushed and her ears turned red as she hurled a plate to the ground in front of me. The shattered pieces flew across the floor.

Years of living together had not convinced her to trust me.

I fished the divorce papers out of my pocket.

"Well, the waiting period's over. Might as well sign this while we're at it."

I nonchalantly slid my resignation underneath.

With an icy laugh, she snatched up the pen and scribbled her name.

"As you wish!"

With those words, she grabbed Charles and stormed out.

I remained seated, watching her disappear into the distance.

There was no point in celebrating this anniversary then.

I stared at the untouched food on the table and listlessly ate, bite after bite.

Once done, I grabbed my suitcase from the corner.

I caught a cab to the airport.

On my way, I texted Holly.

[Left the keys on the living room table. We're through. No more contact.]

I sent the message, shut off my phone, and boarded the flight to Hudson City.