Her Last Words

As Stephanie walked down the lonely path to her old creaky house, she reminisced over her experience at the estate. After the kids spilled the liquid on her, they had glared at her and walked away. She was furious but didn't want to report the incidence to their grandma. So, she just dabbed the little she could and left. She was determined to get the job, no matter what. Hopefully, the grandma calls her. 

She was still diving in her thoughts, but the moment she hit the path facing her home, her heart sunk into her chest. She stopped walking and tried controlling her pants as she stared at the figure before her house, sitting in the roofed pavement with his face buried in his palms like he was waiting for someone. 

Every ounce of joy Stephanie had felt in the last few minutes vanished from her the very instance she set her eyes on him - Nathan, the only man she's ever loved. 

For a moment, she felt like running to give him a hug, but when her memories whispered all the cruel things he was making her pass through, she couldn't breath. 

Slowly, she resumed walking, taking trotting steps as she took out time to admire the man who was still her husband. He looked handsome in the new outfit he wore. Of course, they were new - she could tell. No doubt, his new lover was giving him the life he wanted. 

Getting close enough, Nathan noticed her steps and quickly lifted his head to behold her. Stephanie froze again, her throat trying to constrict. Few hours ago, she had sworn to be strong around him, but setting her eyes on that handsome face of his, she couldn't help but trip all over again. 

Nathan got to his feet, his eyes glinting with emotions for a mini-second. His eyes gave a downward stare at her and questioned her whereabouts, but he knew he had no right to ask.

Stephanie gulped hard and continued towards him, but this time around, she lowered her gaze to the floor. Standing before him, she crossed her hands and tried ignoring the sweet fragrance that emanated from his dress. 

"Hi", she stated perfunctorily. 

He let a deep sigh before responding. "Hi, Stephanie. Been here for a while now. Your mum said you were out".

"Yeah...", she mumbled. 

There was a brief silence. 

"I wouldn't want to waste much time, Steph. I'm here for the divorce papers. Have you signed them?" The echo of non-challance in his voice triggered Stephanie to look at him with a scoff. 

"Seriously? That's the only reason you're here?" She asked, trying to ignore the memories that came along with his cute face - especially his cherry-colored lips. 

"Why else I would I be here, Stephanie? It's been days! I need those papers signed".

"So, you aren't here for your son? For our son?!"

"Oh! Please",he rolled his eyes. "Don't use that blackmail on me. You should know I love my son more than anything else..."

"Same way you loved me but ended up betraying me for someone else?!" Her words cut him off, feeling like a sword to his chest. "I gave you eight years of my life, Nathan! Eight years, and this is how you repay me? I was there when you were nothing! I survived with you, yet you were so cheap to fall for another!"

"Can you just stop!" He half-yelled, not liking the guilt she was trying to build in him. "I appreciate all you did for me, but I'm sorry I fell out of love. Is that a crime?"

A tear trickled down Stephanie's cheek as she shook her head. 

"You're unbelievable", she scoffed. "You made me reject a lot of men who were better than you! You married me and made me had a son for you and all you could do was fall out of love? Are you for real?"

He brushed his fingers into his hair as he exhaled. "This is not the reason I'm here. We've talked about this already".

"And I wasn't okay with it!"

There was a brief silence. 

"You can't just divorce me, Nathan. I did nothing wrong", she whimpered. 

"I know! But I don't love you anymore! Is that too hard to understand?!" His words were so blunt, they made Stephanie's eyes dim. 

"You are a good woman, Steph. But I'm sorry, I love Etta now. It happens! So, why don't you just move on and let me have my peace?"

She couldn't stomach his words, so they just got stuck in her throat and silently choked her. He was never going to change his mind. How could she be so stupid to have hoped? She had cried and hit him the last few times they met, still, he didn't change his mind. His decision was final. It was obvious he was really going to have a second wife. 

She bobbed her head and walked into the house, returning shortly with a pen and the divorce papers in her hands. 

"This is what you want, right?" She held them up to him. "You really want an end to this? Well, I'll give it to you!"

And right in his face, she signed the papers. It was the most difficult thing she's ever had to do. But she had no choice as every plea of hers had fallen on deaf ears. She truly loved him - she still did - but he was a betrayer. 

She threw the papers at him and turned to go into the house, but her legs wobbled when she found her five year old son by the door, tears coursing down his cheeks. He knew what had just happened and it broke Stephanie that for the first time, he witnessed the dirty fight. 

Wordlessly, he ran into the house. The heart - wrenching scene made Stephanie unable to store her tears. 

Her family was finally ruined! She had lost everything! 

With heavy tears in her eyes, she turned back to Nathan who had something akin to remorse on his face. 

"This will be the last time I'll ever shed a tear for you. And I hope you and your mistress get to suffer for the rest of your lives! I will have my revenge", her voice was so cold, her last words made Nathan's brows quirk. 

Revenge? What was she talking about?

Giving him one final glare, she turned and flounced off.