The next morning, I went to the jewelry store and ran right into them.
The sales clerk was showing them gold bracelets while Vera rested her fingers on Gabriel’s hand, smiling sweetly. “I want this one – the heaviest one. It’s gorgeous.”
Another clerk nced at my faded jacket with obvious disdain.
“Ma’am, we don’t buy back old jewelry here. If you’re looking to sell, try the pawn shop at the end of the alley.”
Cold sweat broke out in my palms as I gripped the wooden box. When Gabriel turned around, the smile on his face
froze instantly.
Vera had already linked arms with him and walked over, showing off the gold bracelet on her wrist. “Oh, so sorry! I was going to pick one out for you too, but I didn’t want you to think it was <i>too </i>expensive.”
Gabriel avoided my eyes and said stiffly: “I had a good monthmission–wise. I was actually nning to… buy you a gold ring.”
“Don’t bother.” I clutched the box tighter and turned to leave. “You two take your time shopping.”
I went to an old established pawn shop instead and sold all the jewelry from the wooden box, putting every cent <b>into </b>my own bank ount.
Walking past a print shop, I made three copies of divorce papers.
After reading through the agreement, a breeze crept in through the window cracks, making me shiver, but it also bles away thest trace of attachment I had.
Back at our tiny rental, the small table was set with delicious food – all my favoritefort foods.
Gabriel was wearing the apron I’d mended for him, just bringing thest te of honey zed chicken to the table.
When he saw mee in, he immediately rushed over to take my <b>bag</b>. “What took you so long? The food’s getting
cold.”
After I put the baby to sleep, I quietly sat at the table and picked up my fork.
Gabriel ced a piece of chicken in my bowl, his voice unusually warm.
“Thepany’s sending me on a business trip next week. I’ll be gone about two weeks, but I’ll bring you back something nice.”
Then he pulled a small jewelry box from the drawer. Inside was a silver cross ne.
“I bought this for the kid. This month’s bonus wasn’t much, so it’ll have to do for now. Once <b>I </b>get promoted to
49.7%
department manager at year–end, I’ll get the baby a gold one right away and buy you a gold ring too.”
Gabriel sounded so sincere. If I hadn’t caught him buying Vera the most expensive gold bracelet in the store this morning, I might have actually believed this bted show of affection.
I looked up at him, my fork frozen mid–air.
“Is thepany really sending you on business, or are you going on vacation with Vera?”
Gabriel’s soup spoon crashed onto the table with a loud ng, his face instantly darkening.
“What the hell are you talking about? It’s just a business trip – why are you dragging Vera into this?”
“You’re sitting at home all day with nothing to do, so your mind’s going to weird ces!”
He grabbed his jacket from the chair and stormed out, mming the old wooden <i>door </i>so hard it shook the whole ce.
I stared at the gradually cooling food on the table, then pulled out the divorce papers from the drawer. Carefully, I signed my name at the bottom and ced the agreement under his regr coffee mug.
After packing up all my things, I held my baby and got on the bus back to my hometown.
Two weekster, Gabriel came home humming a tune, carrying a bag with duty–free shop logos.
“Honey, I’m back!”
The empty room echoed only with the sound of wind blowing the curtains.
All my clothes had vanished from the closet, the baby’s crib was gone too, leaving just faint impressions on the
mattress.
Gabriel’s shopping bag hit the floor with a thud. He immediately pulled out his phone to call me, but the calls wouldn’t go through.
Suddenly, he spotted the divorce papers under his coffee mug, and his whole hand started shaking uncontrobly.