I stared until the screen went dark and my own reflection blinked back. Twisted shirt, tired eyes.
I had crossed the line.
Talk with Clara she said
Yeah… Yeah easy for her to say only if she knew what horror Clara was.
I thought of just going to the office first then later going home.
" Dam!! I stink" I murmured to myself.
" Guess I have to see Clara anyway."
The smell of maple syrup and bacon in the kitchen, which was sweet a few minutes earlier, suddenly felt heavy, like it belonged to a life I hadn't earned.
I shoved my phone into my pocket, put on my shoes, grabbed my jacket, and locked Sophi's door behind me, tucking the key beneath the flower vase like she wrote.
Standing there I realized there was no car, then memories of how I left Clara in the car flashed back.
Calling the driver was a bad idea then where I spent the night would be known I quickly decided to order an Uber. Which took forever to arrive.
The drive home was a blur of red lights, car horns. Everyone was in a hurry, but I was not in any hurry to get home.
I knew the moment I stepped into the house all hell would break loose on me.
" Can you drive by a flower shop?" I asked the driver.
I intended to buy a bouquet of roses for Clara hoping to calm the incoming storm.
And another bouquet for Sophi hoping things don't become awkward between us.
By the time I pulled into the driveway the clouds were dark, the kind that holds back a storm until you breathe wrong or take a wrong step.
I walked very reluctantly, like someone was pushing me from behind.
Inside, everything was perfect. It felt like I just walked into an interior design showroom.
Throw pillows aligned like soldiers. A silence that almost hummed
The strong smell of sandalwood hit me. Everything here disgusted me.
No picture of us on the walls rather frames of famous people around no home feeling I felt like puking.
" Sir, good morning," Hannah walked in
" Good morning Hannah, is my wife in?" I prayed to God that she had gone for her shopping spree as usual.
" Yes sir, she is upstairs," Hannah replied.
I went upstairs, and immediately I stepped into the bedroom my chest tightened. I was tired of fighting.
Clara looked stirring at her phone and looked up at me composed as always. "Hmm you came," she said, setting her phone on the bed.
" I…need to talk," I manage to utter. My voice came out low and uneven.
She raised an eyebrow, then without a word walked towards me closer and closer giving an inch distance.
I thought she was about to give me a makeup kiss, it was strange. It's been 12 months now and we've not had any form of intimacy.
" You sting…"She blurted.
Boy oh boy was I shocked. My eyes widened, brows raised, forehead creased.
"What!?"
" Get a shower before asking for a talk, I need to talk." She murmured. " Talk… talk to me about the sting of cheap alcohol?" gazing at me from the crown of my head down to my feet, brows tight, one corner of her mouth curled up as if she tasted shit.
I tilted behind " Hmm."
I gently walked away towards the bathroom, She wasn't worth my sweat, I needed a bath anyway.
The cold water falling on my bare skin, memories of Sophi's body against mine filled my brain. I felt a rush of heat surge through me. Almost immediately I had an Amazing idea, I was going to buy Sophi a Cartier Love Bracelet.
I knew I was doing too much but I just couldn't help it she deserved more.
Sitting in my home office, sipping coffee, balancing sheets on my laptop. I didn't feel like going to the office today.
Clara walked in standing in the doorway
"You wanted to talk ?"
I stopped.
Lifted my head, took a deep breath, and tightened my jaw gazing at her.
" This marriage," I started, then swallowed.
" It isn't working. We both know that."
Sef tilted her head, a small, almost amused smile touching her lips. " That's hardly breaking news."
" I can't keep pretending." I forced the words out. "
I don't want to continue living like this."
Clara sat down" So… what are you saying?"
" I want…"
" You want us to go for therapy." Clara leaned back, crossing her legs. " Therapy is what we are going for…Period."
"No," I said in a commanding tone.
" I want a divorce."
The word landed like a bomb. Clara took a deep breath.
" Wow! You want to throw away 5 years just like that?
She exhaled softly, not quite a sigh.
" I tried Clara, you are bringing up therapy now I begged you let's go for therapy on eight separate occasions, you vehemently refused. That was absolutely not an option for you."
" After all these years you let go of the good memories?"
" What good memory?" I stood up " From the day I married you Clara I have not had one good memory with you, not one."
" I wondered when you'd finally say it." She sighed, " I am not shocked."
"Of course, Clara. You think I don't notice when you work late every night? When we only talk about the grocery list and the cleaning lady? We stopped being a marriage a long time ago."
Clara stood up too and walked towards me "Then why stay?"
I held her by the arms. "Clara, I loved you or maybe I thought I did and I thought we could make things work… but I guess I was terribly wrong."
I took a deep breath. " I will call the lawyers," I said quietly. We'll figure it out."
She studied me for a long moment, eyes soft but sharp.
" You think you can take me for a fool? Use me for five years and dump me?" Clara's voice trembled… not from weakness, but from fury barely caged.
She turned toward the door, the stopped midway. Her profile caught the light, cold, sharp and unrecognizable.
Her heels struck the floor—one, two, three… then the door slammed shut behind her.
Silence.
I sat there for what felt like an eternity — maybe ten minutes, maybe forever —staring at the imprint of where she'd stood, trying to piece together what just happened, why she became passionate about the marriage all of a sudden.
Then my phone rang.
A single vibration that sliced through the quiet like a blade, but a glamour of joy filled my heart hoping it was Sophi.
I reached for it — quickly.
The screen lit up.
And for a moment, I swear my soul left my body.
Because what I saw on that screen… was impossible.