---- The city lights were dim, the moon barely visible. That's when Alexander finally called me. Over the one message | sent hours ago. The one where | agreed to the divorce. "You're always throwing that word around-arentt you tired of 'the drama?" But Alexander, you're the one who keeps saying it. | wanted to argue, but what was the point? He thought I'd never leave. That | loved him too much. That I'd give everything | had just to keep him. So he threw the word "divorce" at me, like a leash he knew I'd never break. For eight years, | always gave in. He thought | was using divorce as a threat- ---- but this was the first time | really meant it. And it would be the last. "My dad's gone. You don't need to pretend anymore." "No more happy-couple performances in front of him." He paused. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. "Where are you? I'll come be with you." Where was |? Was he really going to ditch Charlotte and fly twelve hours just to comfort me? Yeah, right. He hung up. | tried to head home. But somewhere on the hospital stairs, everything went blurry- ---- and | passed out.