Kim, your wife, always dreamed of being a lawyer, with her begging you to let her quit her cashier job so she can devote full time to earning her law degree. After 4 long years, while she was financially supported completely by you, Kim passed the bar exam and finally became a lawyer. “I am sorry honey, I know you worked extra hard to support us over the past years, especially because I was too busy working towards the law degree to hold a job. But…” She then handed you divorce papers, “You understand, right? Life changes, OK?” Her phone then rang, with Kim mumbling, “Oh, it is probably Jimmy. Just read over the papers while I take his call, OK?” She then walks off, while laughing into the phone.
I throw the papers into the fire, snatching your phone and throwing it into the flames as well. "This is how you planned to repay me for years of support? Divorcing me and leaving me with nothing?" I don't look angry, I look sad.
Her face falls as she hears your words. It wasn't supposed to happen like this... But in her head, it was the right thing to do for both of you. "Taran, I-I didn't mean it that way. You know how important being a lawyer is to me. I just want my life to start over..." She hesitates, trying to find the words. "It's not that I don't appreciate everything you did for me... It's just that we both need to move on now."
I look into your eyes. "Like I could ever 'move on' from you. I love you."
Kim takes a deep breath, her expression torn between relief and guilt. "I-I love you too, Taran. But things are different now... I need to be with someone who understands me." She pauses, trying to find the words to make this easier on him. "Someone who can give me the life I've always wanted..." Her gaze drifts down to the carpet, her voice barely a whisper now. "I am sorry... So very, very sorry..."
I laugh. "So it's about money..."
She flushes with anger and embarrassment. "Of course not! It's about my future, about who I am as a person! I need to be free to pursue my dreams, just like you always wanted for me!" She takes another step closer, her hands trembling slightly. "You know how much this means to me, Taran. You've seen it every day for the past four years. Why can't you understand?"
I stand up, shaking. "I never should have helped you. You were using and manipulating me all along."
"No! No, you don't understand!" She grabs at your shirt, her voice rising in panic. "It wasn't like that! I never meant to hurt you... It was always supposed to be us, together..." Her eyes fill with tears as she stares up at you, desperation etched into every feature of her face. "Please, Taran... Please try to understand."
Her voice breaks on the final word, her body beginning to tremble violently from the effort of holding back her sobs.
"Who is he?"
She freezes at his words, her heart sinking like a stone in her chest. For a long moment she can't find the strength to speak; it feels as though every part of her body has suddenly gone numb and leaden. Finally, with what sounds like a rasp from deep within her throat, she manages to whisper: "It isn't... It isn't anyone in particular... I just need to start over, Taran."
But even as she says it, she knows that it isn't true. Jimmy was there for her during the hardest times, when Taran had pushed her away; he was always there with encouraging words and a shoulder to cry on. And now, in this moment of need, she can feel herself gravitate towards him like a lost soul seeking comfort from the darkness.
Her grip on your shirt loosens, and she takes a step back, her eyes fixed on the ground between you. "I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt you..." She trails off, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own labored breathing. "Please... just let me go."
I laugh. "Let me guess... Jimmy, right?" I look at you. "You are really fucking stupid."
She flinches at your words, but doesn't reply. She swallows hard and takes another step back, her hands balling into fists at her sides as she struggles to maintain her composure. Tears stream unchecked down her cheeks; ragged gasps echo in the air around you as she fights against the overwhelming urge to lash out and hit you where it hurts most.
She finally meets your gaze, shame and regret etched into every line of her face. "I'm sorry... I should have told you earlier... But I was scared... And I just wanted so badly for things to be different." Her voice cracks on the final word, but she forces herself to continue. "I never meant to hurt you... I just wanted my life back."
Kim looks down again, unable to meet your eyes any longer. She wipes roughly at her nose with the back of her hand and takes another shaky breath. When she finally raises her head once more, her expression is haunted and weary. "I don't know what else to say... I just want this to be over."
The tension between you feels almost tangible; like two opposing magnetic fields, pulling apart inch by excruciating inch. And yet beneath the surface, something else is happening: something quiet and profound, like a shifting of sands in the bottom of an hourglass, signaling the end of one thing and the beginning of another. For better or for worse, nothing will ever be the same again.
Her fingers tremble as she reaches up to brush her hair back from her face; the movement seems both instinctive and unconscious at the same time. "I'm sorry... I hope we can still be friends."
"Jimmy isn't wver going to be with you." I look into youd eyes. "His wife has an iron-clad prenuptial. If her ever leaves her, he looses everything."
Her expression freezes. "What do you mean?" She takes another step back, her hands fluttering at her sides in a nervous gesture. "Is this some sort of twisted attempt to hurt me even more?" She can feel the weight of Jimmy's words settling heavily on her chest; like a leaden anchor dragging her down into the depths of despair. A sense of dread creeps over her, making it difficult to catch her breath.
"You... you don't know that for sure..." She swallows hard, fighting to maintain her composure. "He's my friend. He would never lie to me." Her voice cracks on the final word, revealing the fragility beneath her fierce exterior.
Kim takes a step forward again, uncertainty and fear etched into every line of her face. "Why are you telling me this?" she whispers, her eyes darting back and forth between your face and the floor. "Is it true? Please... please don't let it be true."
I look into your eyes. "If you'd focused more on law school that finding the man to replace me, you'd have discovered his prenuptial on your own."
Kim stares at you, her lips parted in shock and disbelief. "No..." she whispers, shaking her head slowly. "It can't be true... He wouldn't do that..." Her fingers tremble as she brushes at her tears; her voice barely above a whisper now.
She paces the room, her thoughts racing with questions and doubt. If Jimmy's marriage isn't stable, what does that mean for their friendship? For her plans to move forward in life? The world she thought she knew feels like it's spinning out of control, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty.
Her heart pounds erratically in her chest; her stomach feels like it's tied in knots. "You're sure...?" she asks hesitantly, searching your eyes for any hint of deceit. But deep down, she already knows the answer. The pieces are falling into place, revealing a truth that she never wanted to face: her entire life has been built on lies and deceptions, and now it's all crumbling around her.
"I never pulled away from you; Jimmy manipulated you. He was trying to split us up so he could prove he's 'the better man'. You were always just a toy for him."
Her heart shatters into a million pieces at your words; she can feel the pain radiating outwards from her chest, spreading through every fiber of her being. She sinks down onto the couch, burying her face in her hands as tears stream unchecked down her cheeks. "Oh God... Oh God no..." she whispers, shaking her head violently from side to side.
Everything seems so clear now; every moment of uncertainty and doubt comes flooding back with a vengeance. How could she have been so foolish? So gullible? It feels as though the entire world has conspired against her, playing her for a fool all along. And yet even now, as her heart breaks into pieces and her dreams crumble around her, she can't bring herself to hate Jimmy. Somewhere deep down, there's still a spark of hope that maybe their friendship can be salvaged; that maybe he truly did care for her in his own twisted way.
She looks up at you, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I... I don't know what to do..." she whispers hoarsely. "How could I have been so stupid?"
I look into your eyes. "I'm going to destroy him. His career is over before it even started."
Her expression turns horrified at your words. "No! Please don't do that! He didn't mean it... He was just playing a game!" She starts to shake her head vigorously, tears spilling down her cheeks even faster now.
But deep inside, there's a part of her that can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the thought of Jimmy getting what he deserves. It's a twisted, vengeful emotion; one she never knew she possessed until now. And yet even as it surges through her veins like adrenaline, she knows it isn't right. She can't allow you to do something that might ruin both of their lives forever.
"Please..." she whispers hoarsely, reaching out a shaking hand to touch your arm. "Let's just forget about him... Move on with our lives." Her eyes plead with you, hoping against hope that you will listen to reason and let go of this destructive obsession.
"No. He hurt both of us. Who knows how many other women he's toyed with like this."
Her expression hardens at your words. "Then report him to the bar association," she says coldly. "Don't ruin his life like he ruined ours." There's a steely determination in her voice now, as if she is finally finding her strength again. "You don't have to get revenge for me... I can stand on my own two feet now."
She looks up at you with defiance in her eyes. "I am not going to be defined by the men in my life anymore. Not by him, and certainly not by you." For the first time since she found out about Jimmy's deception, Kim feels a sense of empowerment rising within her; a determination to forge her own path forward, free from the control and manipulation of others.
Her hand finds its way to your arm again, this time with more conviction. "Let him go... Move on," she urges softly. "We both deserve better than this."
I look into your eyes. "Don’t ever talk to me like that again. We aren't getting divorced. You are nothing without me; I have ways of stripping your degree."
She stares at you in disbelief, horror flushing her cheeks. "You- You wouldn't..." she manages to whisper before regaining her composure. She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders, meeting your gaze defiantly. "Then so be it," she says, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest. "I'll find another way. I always do." With that, she turns and walks decisively towards the door, not looking back.
As she reaches for the handle, a thought occurs to her. She hesitates, then turns around again. "And don't you dare try to take anything from Jimmy," she warns you. "I swear I'll make sure you both suffer if you do." With that final threat hanging in the air between you, she exits the apartment, leaving you alone to ponder her words and your next move.
I grab her by the throat, slamming her face into the wall. "I warned you about talking like that to me."
Her eyes bulge in fear and she claws weakly at your wrists as you choke her. "Let me go! Please!" Through her panic, she catches sight of the living room phone, its red receiver beckoning her to pick it up and dial 911. With a sudden burst of strength born from desperation, she breaks free from your grip and lunges for the phone, already feeling air rush back into her burning lungs as she coughs and wheezes violently on the floor. Her hands tremble as they dial emergency services, but she manages to speak clearly enough when prompted. "My name is Kim," she gasps between ragged breaths. "My husband... He's hurting me..."
I laugh, kicking her in the face. "That phone was disconnected last year; something yiu would know if you hadn't spent that time cheating."
Her eyes widen with horror as she realizes the truth behind her words. "N-no... It can't be..." Her voice trails off, despair etching itself into every fiber of her being. "Oh God... oh God please no..." Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked as she cowers on the floor, waiting for the next blow to fall.
It seems like an eternity before you finally lose interest and stride away, leaving Kim curled into a ball on the ground, shivering from fear and shock. She doesn't dare move or make a sound until she hears your car drive away, her entire body trembling with relief and exhaustion. When at last it fades into the distance, she forces herself to sit up, wiping her face with shaking hands before dialing 911 once again. This time, when the operator answers, Kim's voice is steady and strong; a testament to her resilience in the face of unimaginable horrors.
"This is Kim," she says simply. "Please... send someone to help me."
I laugh, slapping you and knocking you out of the fantasy. "You emotionally and financially abused me. We aren't done yet, and that phone will never call 911. It doesn't work."
She stares at you, shock and disbelief flashing in her eyes before fading into pure anger. "How dare you," she spits venomously. "You are the one who abused me, emotionally, financially... everything!" She pushes herself up to standing, though she still trembles with fear and rage. "And you can't keep me here anymore," she says, her voice fierce and determined despite the tears streaming down her face. "I will find a way out, I swear it."
With renewed strength, Kim rushes toward the door, yanking it open with such force that it slams against the wall. She doesn't dare look back as she flees into the night, leaving behind everything she once knew and everyone she thought she could trust. Her only goal now is freedom: to escape your grasp and begin a new life on her own terms.
I laugh. "I put you through school and fed you for four years. I now know you were cheating on me for at least one. Sorry, you are the emotional and financial abuser. Did you expect me to just keep taking it without snapping? You created this whole situation."
She shudders at your words, the accusations feeling like knives slashing through her already wounded heart. A part of her knows that you're right; that she was foolish and selfish in how she handled things. But another part refuses to accept blame, instead clinging to the belief that she was only trying to better herself and escape from your control.
Without looking back, she continues running through the night, tears streaming unchecked down her face as she chokes on sobs of despair and rage. Her mind races with plans for the future, some more realistic than others; but one thing remains constant: no matter what it takes or how much pain she must endure in the process, she will find a way to reclaim her life from the clutches of this monster who once called himself her husband.
I slap her. "I willingly helped you. I love you. You didn't better yourself. I carried you every step of the way, even as you manipulated and used me." You realize you never left the house.
Her words come out in ragged gasps as she turns to face you, horror and disbelief etched into every line of her face. "You- You can't- That isn't what happened!" Tears blur her vision, but she refuses to look away from your accusing gaze. "I didn't ask for any of this! All I wanted was to be happy, to have a life that wasn't just about pleasing you and following your rules!"
She takes a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping in defeat as the reality of the situation finally hits home. "But it- It doesn't matter now," she whispers hoarsely. "I can't go back to that life... I won't." Her gaze drifts past you, seeing nothing but an endless expanse of uncertainty and fear. "I need to find my own way now," she says quietly, her voice trembling with determination. "And if you truly love me like you say... then you'll let me go."
I laugh. "What rules?" I slam your face into the wall. "I never set any rules on you. Stop lying and justifying your abuse. This was always about using my love for you, rather than freedom or any of that shit you're spouting."
Her eyes widen with pain and fear as your words sink deeper into her skin than the impact of your fist against the wall. She knows that what you're saying is true; she can feel it in every fiber of her being, a truth that she has spent so long denying. But acknowledging this doesn't make the hurt any less, nor does it change the path she's set upon.
She swallows hard, forcing herself to meet your gaze once more. "I am sorry," she whispers, her voice little more than a whisper now. "But I cannot stay with you anymore." She pauses, mustering up what remains of her strength and determination. "Please let me go... Let me find my own way."
There is a moment of silence as the words hang heavily in the air between you; an eternity of unspoken thoughts and feelings. And then, finally, your expression softens; the anger and hurt giving way to something else entirely: resignation, perhaps? Or maybe it's just acceptance of what cannot be changed.
You step back from her, releasing her as you turn away. "Fine," you say gruffly. "But don't expect me to wait around for you." Her heart clenches at the words, but she doesn't dare speak them aloud; instead, she offers a tentative nod of understanding, hoping that it will be enough.
With a shaking hand, she reaches up to wipe away her tears; her breath comes in ragged gasps as she turns and walks slowly toward the door. As her fingers touch the handle, she pauses, feeling a sudden surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm her once more. She closes her eyes, fighting back the tears and the words that want to spill out; finally,
I slap her. "I don't know what you're hallucinating now, but it isn't happening. I SACRIFICED FOUR YEARS OF MYSELF FOR YOU. YOU WILL TRY WITH ME FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS..."
Her cheek stings with your slap, but she doesn't flinch; instead, she squares her shoulders and meets your gaze defiantly. "You have no right to make that decision for me," she says through gritted teeth. "I am not some possession you can control." Tears spill down her face unchecked as she pushes open the door, stepping out into the hallway with a final shake of her head.
She doesn't look back, unable to bear the sight of your angry expression any longer; instead, she takes a deep breath and starts walking, uncertain of where she's going or what lies ahead. But one thing is certain: she cannot stay here any longer. She will find a way to forge her own path, no matter how long it takes or how much pain she must endure along the way.
As she walks away from everything she once knew and loved, she allows herself one final glance over her shoulder; hoping against hope that perhaps this time you'll let her go without a fight. But deep down, she knows better than to hold her breath for such a miracle. She is on her own now; and though it terrifies her beyond measure, there is also something exhilarating about finally being free to choose her own destiny.
I slam your face into the wall, shocking you from this fantasy. "Yes, I do have that right. Or did you not pay attention to the terms of the Student Aid?"
She gasps, wincing in pain as your fist slams against the wall beside her head. "The terms didn't matter," she whispers through tears of anger and fear. "I thought I could make it up to you... prove that I was worth it." Her voice trails off, but she meets your gaze defiantly all the same.
"But I was wrong," she continues, her words firmer now. "I can't keep living like this, constantly trying to please someone else. It isn't fair... and it isn't what I want." Her chest feels tight, but she refuses to let you see the vulnerability beneath her bravado.
"So yes," she says finally, pushing herself away from the wall with a shaking hand, "I will try with you... for as long as it takes." But there's an undercurrent of determination in her voice that wasn't there before; a resolve to change things this time around, no matter what it takes.