Chapter Two

The sound of drawers opening and closing echoed, rousing me from sleep. I rubbed my eyes trying to clear the haze, I gazed out, met by the warm smile of sunshine. It was morning already.

““Mia….Mia", I glanced around seeking her presence.

“She’s gone to school, it’s 10:00 am”, Harrison informed me, his tone firm as he scoured the shelves determined to find whatever he was searching for.

I slowly got out of bed and reached out to where I had kept the envelope.

“Are you looking for this”, I said as I handed him the papers.

He turned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me with frown eyebrows, He snatched the envelope tearing it open .

“Ooh, so you already saw these”, he said with an arrogant tone as he raised his eyebrows. "It’s okay, I was planning to show them to you anyway. You saved both of us time”, he smirked.

I froze in place, my eyes locked onto his.

“Well don’t act surprised, I had already told you I am not interested in this marriage anymore, I can’t stay with you anymore Emily.Its time you accepted the truth”.

His words hit me to the core, I felt like someone was reaping out my heart. My eyes remained locked on his face in disbelief. I couldn’t believe it was the same man that loved me 6 years ago.

**He turned the pages**

“Haaa---, Emily, what’s this, Why haven’t you signed these yet”. He said with a surprised look as he titled his head.

"Any way", he murmured as he came closer.

“So I need you to sign these papers, and I don’t want any drama, got it”. He continued as he threw the papers on the bed and left.

As he was just about to reach the door, I composed myself, wiped off my tears and quickly rushed towards him.

I fell on my knees holding one of his legs.

“Harrison please, don’t do this to me, I will do anything for you but please don’t divorce me”. I begged.

“Oh really, will you do anything, he smirked.

“What can you possibly do Emily, tell me. What will you do haaa. What new thing shall you do for me that you failed to do in seven years”. He changed his tone.

“Tell me what a low class lady like you can do for me”. He bragged.

“Please Harrison, Please”, I continued begging, "Please tell me, did I do anything wrong, I will make it right but please don’t do this”, I bowed my head, my face touching his feet.

“But tell me one thing Emily, are you this dumb or do you pretend sometimes. Yes I knew you're not so smart but I didn’t expect you to be this stupid. Can't you see when someone doesn’t love you, at least use your brain for once. I don’t love you and I have shown you that a million times but I don’t know why you can’t accept that”, he said looking straight into my face.

“I can’t accept that”, I replied with a low tone. “Every marriage faces obstacles but it doesn’t mean we should end it Harrison, Let's give our love a second chance, that’s what marriage is all about”.

***he laughed with such mockery as if whatever I was saying were a joke***

“I told you I don’t want any drama Emily, I don’t love you anymore…., and who told you I consider this a marriage. To me this is my jail, the biggest punishment I ever got was marrying you.

“We don’t belong to the same world Emily, can’t you understand that”, he continued,” I can’t even introduce you in public as my wife, why should I be with you. Now get up and stop playing your sympathy games with me because nothing is going to change now. My decision is final”, he proceeded and left.

I gazed in disbelief, I couldn’t believe that Harrison, the only man I ever knew, didn't want anything to do with me anymore. Our love that was once a burning flame had reduced to a faint flicker. His eyes that were once bright with affection now seemed dull and uninterested, I felt my love slipping away like sand between my fingers. The same lips that praised me one day are the same lips that belittle me today.

************

“Mia, Mia, How is my baby going to compose all this?. Mia's every year's birthday wish is always having a complete family. How am I going to tell her we can't be with her daddy anymore. My baby is going to be so heartbroken, it seems like my biggest nightmare is about to come true”. I spoke to myself in hushed tones.

As I sat on the floor sobbing uncontrollably, I wondered what had driven us apart. Harrison loved me so much, now all I have left is rocking my brain for reasons behind our drifting. I grasped for clues to understand what went wrong. I analyzed every conversation, every gesture, every decision, seeking closure but all I could find was more questions.

Seven years ago, Harrison proposed to me with a lot of love and treated me So well but suddenly after marriage everything changed. He became So cold towards me and things became worse after I had Mia.

Despite everything that was going on between me and my husband, I never intended to leave this marriage for the sake of my daughter. I always prayed and hoped we could work things out because I didn’t want Mia growing up with a broken family. I I have always tried my best so we don’t fall apart, well I guess I didn’t try hard enough.

********

"Mummy, mummy, i am back!!”. Mia came running.

I quickly wiped off my tears and rushed to meet her.

“Welcome back baby, could you please give me a hug”.

***Hugs***

“Mummy look, I drew this in class today. Our teacher told us to draw what we love most and this is what I drew”. She said with a cute little smile as she opened the paper to show me.

“I drew three people”, she proceeded.

“This is mummy, this is daddy and this is Mia”, she said with a wide smile as she pointed to the piece of paper. “Mummy I just want us to always stay together, one big family”. She said as she reached out to hug me.

I hugged her back with tears streaming down my face ,my heart was more broken for my daughter than it was for myself.

“Thank you baby girl, you are So sweet, and I promise you we shall never part okay”. I said as I patted her.

“Now you can go change”.