"That won't be necessary." I let out a hollow little laugh and hung up the phone.
Thinking back to what had happened earlier that day, I slowly pushed him away and said flatly, "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."
Sensing the chill in me, a flicker of disappointment crossed Bryce's eyes before he could stop it.
"Joanie, why do I feel like you've been so distant with me lately?"
"It's my fault. Maybe I haven't been paying you enough attention." He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "Get some rest. Our anniversary is coming up soon, and I've got a surprise ready for you."
The next morning, the space beside me was empty. Bryce was already gone.
He'd texted an explanation: things were piling up at the research institute, so he probably wouldn't be home much in the evenings.
I couldn't be bothered to call out his lie. I simply replied, calmly, with a single word. "Okay."
So Bryce had no idea that I'd been busy too, all this time.
Busy applying for a visa. Busy packing. Busy booking a plane ticket. Busy stepping away from him, one move at a time.
I'd already promised my best friend that once I wrapped things up here, I'd fly abroad right away to treat my body, and keep her company while I was at it, just to unwind.
That day, the moment I unlocked my phone, the newest post on Jocelyn's feed popped straight up.
"Thank you to Bryce for throwing me this celebration party, to toast the huge success of my new creation."
In the photo, Bryce was bent forward, cutting Jocelyn a slice of cake with the gentlest look on his face.
I froze for a beat, then slowly zoomed in on the image with my fingers.
In a corner not far off, clear as day, I saw my parents beaming at Jocelyn, applauding her.
It wasn't until that moment that it finally sank in.
So from beginning to end, I'd been nothing but an outsider, someone who could never truly belong to their tight little family.
I gave a bitter smile and, without a moment's hesitation, flicked the lighter in my hand and burned the last photo of Bryce and me to ashes too.
Only after the photo had crumbled into ash, bit by bit, did Bryce's call come through.
"I'm sorry, Joanie. There's an unusual amount going on at the institute today, and I really can't get away. That surprise I promised you might have to wait a little while."
He paused, his voice taking on a note of apology. "When I get home tonight, I'll make it up to you, I promise…"
Before he could finish, Jocelyn's coy voice came through from his end. "Bryce, what are you still waiting for? Come eat your cake."
Bryce fumbled to cover the receiver, his tone tight with nerves. "Joanie, remember to be a good girl and wait at home for me to come back."
Faced with him so clumsily trying to cover his tracks, I only smiled, calm as ever.
"Okay. I've got a gift ready for you too. It's on the table. Take a look when you get home."
Even though he'd heard me agree with his own ears, something uneasy stirred inexplicably in Bryce's chest.
With Jocelyn pressing him, he had no choice but to force down the disquiet inside him and hang up on me in a rush.
Before I left, I laid the divorce papers, the record from the abortion, and the proof of Bryce's affair all out on the table.
Then I picked up my suitcase and took a cab to the airport.
In the last moment before the plane took off, I pulled the SIM card from my phone without a shred of regret.
And along with it, I threw everything we'd had over these years straight into the trash.
