The hospital corridors smelled of antiseptic and silence. I walked out clutching a small white envelope, the paper inside still warm from the printer. Certificate of Abortion. The words felt heavy, cruel—final.
At the nurse’s desk, they handed me a tiny sealed box. “We thought you might want to keep something,” she said softly. Inside was a single silver bracelet—one I’d bought weeks ago, engraved with a name that would never be used: Liam. My baby boy who never even had a chance.
I went home in a cab, the city lights passing in a blur. Every honk, every sound outside felt distant, unreal. When I arrived, I placed the box on the bed. Then I opened my drawer and pulled out everything that still tied me to Johan—the marriage certificate, the ultrasound photo, the wedding ring he once slipped onto my finger, the dried rose from our first anniversary, even the letter my father had written before he died, asking Johan to take care of me.
One by one, I placed them all inside the box, my fingers trembling as I closed the lid. “This is it,” I whispered. “The end of us.”
When I stepped out of my room, I could hear laughter coming from the living room—bright, carefree laughter that cut deep.
Ella and little John were there, both smiling as they packed a pile of beach clothes into suitcases. John looked up, grinning widely when he saw me. “Auntie Danica!” he chirped. “Come on! We’re going on a cruise! Are you coming with us?”
I froze, my hand tightening around the handle of the box. Before I could answer, Johan emerged from the hallway, adjusting his watch like a man already halfway out the door.
“No,” he said curtly. “She’s not coming with us. Someone needs to stay and manage the house.” He didn’t even glance at me. “Danica will do that.”
Ella chuckled, pretending to look apologetic. “Oh, you know how business trips are. I can’t let Johan travel alone as his secretary, and for John, I can’t leave him alone to you like before, I mean…you might… well, get tired easily. And he’s really naughty. You should rest, sweetheart.” Her tone was sweet, but her eyes were mocking.
I looked at her, then at Johan. For the first time, I didn’t feel pain. Just an eerie calm. “Okay,” I said simply, setting the box on the counter. “Have fun.”
They both blinked, as if surprised by my lack of emotion.
Johan frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Why do you suddenly not care?” he asked, his tone sharp. “What, no argument? No questions? No begging?”
I turned to him, my voice quiet but cutting. “What do you want me to say, Johan? That I’ll cry and make a scene again? You said it’s a business trip, right? So I’m trying to be understanding.”
He scoffed, clearly thrown off balance.
“Besides,” I added calmly, “I’m leaving soon too.”
His head snapped up. “Leaving? What do you mean, leaving? Where are you going?”
“To the province,” I said, meeting his eyes. “To visit my father’s grave. It’s their death anniversary after our anniversary. Remember?”
For a second, guilt flickered in his gaze. He sighed, trying to sound sincere. “Danica, look, I know I’ve been… busy. But I’ll follow you after the cruise, okay? We’ll visit your parents together.”
I smiled faintly. “Sure.”
He looked relieved, like a man who had just averted a fight. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a few documents. “Also—could you sign these? Just some papers for the company. Minor things, nothing serious.”
I took them without a word. I knew exactly what they were—authorization forms meant to transfer a portion of my shares to his name. But I’d already taken care of that with my lawyer days ago. Everything had been moved under a trust he couldn’t touch.
Still, I signed the papers smoothly, my hand steady. He smiled, unaware that the game was already over.
“Thanks,” he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I’ll see you soon, Danica. Be careful, okay?”
I just nodded. “I’ll be careful. You too!”
As they prepared to leave, Ella approached me, her smile bright and venomous. “Goodbye, Dani,” she said softly. “When we come back, I hope we can talk properly. Clear the air, you know? But between us girls… maybe you should take this chance to think about leaving. It’s better for everyone.”
I met her gaze, my lips curving into a faint smile. “Don’t worry,” I said, my voice calm and certain. “When you come back, I’ll make sure Johan regrets everything he ever did to me.”
For the first time, her smile faltered.
Then she grabbed John’s hand, forcing a laugh. “We’ll see, Dani. Take care!”
And just like that, they left—laughing, hand in hand, as if they hadn’t just destroyed everything I’d once held sacred.
I waited until the sound of the car engine faded completely. Then I stood there in the silence, taking one last look around the house that never felt like home.
The portraits on the wall mocked me—our wedding photo, our family gatherings, fake smiles that now looked sinister. I walked to the center of the room and placed the wooden box gently on the coffee table. My entire past—my pain, my losses, my love—fit neatly inside that box.
I put a note on the box and wrote, Happy anniversary, my ex husband. Goodbye!
A black limousine pulled up outside moments later. I straightened my blouse, wiped the last trace of tears from my face, and stepped out the door.
Brendon was leaning casually against the car, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He looked older now, sharper, but his eyes still carried that same steady warmth I remembered.
“Ready?” he asked simply.
I nodded. “Ready.”
As we drove away from the house I once called home, I didn’t look back. I clenched my fist tightly and swore that one of these days, I would make sure they would regret everything they did to me.
