Ivy’s POV
“Ivy? What is this?!” Adam’s voice echoed from outside the house, full of anger and disbelief. I could feel the vibration of his voice to my bones. However, this time, his anger didn’t scare me.
“Open the door, Ivy! You’re so childish!” His tone changed, more pleading, but still sounded loud and forceful. I knew he was trying to control his emotions, but I could feel his frustration hidden behind those words. He knocked on the door hard, the sound shaking the windows of the house.
“Listen to me first, Calista and I have nothing to do with each other. I just took her to the hospital because I felt sorry for her.” His explanation sounded rushed, like someone trying to defend themselves. However, the explanation felt bland, not enough to convince me. The lie was too obvious. There was a pause, his breathing sounded heavy, showing his nervousness.
I ignored his statement. I remained silent, letting the silence be the answer to all the drama he created. It wasn't because I was stubborn, but because I needed time to calm down and process everything that had happened. My emotions were mixed: anger, sadness, and disappointment, but above all, there was relief. Relief that I finally dared to take this step.
After a moment of silence, Adam’s voice changed. His banging stopped. It was replaced by a long sigh, indicating fatigue and defeat. I could picture him standing in front of the door, his body slumped, his strength drained.
“Oh, alright. How long can you live without me, you weird woman.” The sarcastic and dismissive tone was clear in his voice, but this time, it sounded softer, more fragile. Like a child who had just been scolded. The phrase “Weird woman” pierced me, reminding me of his indifference all this time. But this time, his words no longer hurt me. I had passed that point.
There was a longer silence this time, punctuated by small sounds, like the sound of something falling and banging. I imagined him tidying up his belongings that I had prepared in front of the door. Belongings that had been silent witnesses to our empty marriage.
Then, the sound of footsteps fading away, getting fainter and fainter. The sound of the car door opening and closing. The sound of the car engine starting and then disappearing into the distance.
And I knew, he was really gone.
Then, calmly, I took my phone and pressed the record button. “Adam,” I said, my voice clear and firm, “This is our last recording. Goodbye.” I ended the recording and placed the phone on the table.
The sound of the bedroom door lock turning became the end of the last chapter in my life with Adam. And for the first time in five years, I felt truly free.
***
The next day, I deliberately took a day off from my job as a doctor. Again, for the first time in five years, I wanted to take a vacation to pamper myself. This was a gift for myself after going through the painful storm of marriage. First, I would go to the salon, have lunch at a nice restaurant, and then go shopping. I wanted to feel the freedom I had been holding back again.
My long hair, always neat, was now cut to my shoulders, with layers that gave a fresher and more modern look. Now my face and appearance looked younger and more energetic. After leaving the salon, with light steps, I stopped by the luxurious restaurant I had been eyeing for a long time. I ordered all the best food recommended by the restaurant; seafood platter, truffle pasta, and dessert souffle. I wanted to pamper my tongue with the flavors I had been craving for so long.
“Ivy?!” A familiar voice made me look up. A handsome man stood near my table, his eyes full of surprise and happiness.
“Dylan? Is that you? How are you?” I replied after knowing who was greeting me. The handsome and dashing man was Dylan Ridd, my childhood friend and neighbor in the housing complex where my family lived. Time seemed to stop for a moment, memories of the past emerged.
“Long time no see, you haven’t changed at all,” he complimented, looking at me happily. His smile was sincere and warm, melting away the slight awkwardness that had appeared.
“Where have you been, why did you suddenly disappear and never come home again?” His question was soft, but I felt a sense of concern behind his words.
I paused for a moment, remembering the difficult times I had been through. “Ah. I’m sorry, am I interrupting your meal?” he asked, noticing the pile of food in front of me. I instinctively shook my head.
“Who are you having lunch with? Your husband? If so… I’d better leave,” Dylan said again. There was a faint look of disappointment on his face, showing his hopes that may have been extinguished replaced by an awkward attitude.
“No, I’m alone, do you want to join?” I asked, inviting him. I wanted to share my happiness today with someone who cared, and someone I had been wanting to meet for a long time.
Dylan’s eyes lit up with joy, he seemed to disbelieve my words. Only, I’m sure he thought my food was too much for me to eat alone. Although finally he sat down in front of me. The atmosphere of our lunch became more cheerful.
“Oh yes, I’m sorry for the loss of your parents.” His voice became softer, showing deep empathy.
I nodded, remembering the memory of the tragic accident that took my parents. Since then, I had never returned to my childhood home. The memory was too painful, so I had to live at my grandmother’s house. Unfortunately, my grandmother also passed away. I lived alone until finally I became dependent on Adam’s presence. All this time, my love for him was one-sided, I was the one who was oblivious and strange.
“Your house… don’t you want to visit it?” Dylan’s question pulled me out of the shadows of the past and the present I had just experienced.
I pondered and thought for a moment, then said, “I plan to go home tomorrow.”
“Wow, really?!” Dylan’s smile widened, showing his happiness at my decision. Maybe going back to my childhood home wasn’t just about visiting a building, but also about starting a new chapter in my life.
The fork I was holding felt heavy, like an unbearable burden. As a group of men entered the restaurant, my eyes widened. I knew them all, especially him, Adam, my ex-husband who was still legally my husband. I tried to hide my face, but Dylan, sitting across from me, looked confused by my behavior.
“Who?” he whispered, his gaze probing. I didn’t answer, just shook my head slightly. Damn! They chose a table right behind me, as if they were deliberately trying to make me feel pressured.
“Haha, so where do you live now, buddy?” Travis’s voice sounded loud, interrupting our conversation. I tried to focus on the food, but my ears couldn’t avoid their conversation.
“Is that Ivy’s house?” Tommy asked.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Adam replied, his voice cold, “We were married, she already had a house. So why would I buy her another house?”
My chest felt tight. His words pierced me like sharp thorns. I tried to hold back the tears threatening to flow, but a sense of inferiority overwhelmed me.
