Chương 4 - Một Tuần Trước Lễ Cưới

I dropped to my knees.

My bandage caught on the broken edge when I picked up.

Blood started seeping through again.

stepped toward .

I moved away.

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“You did.”

“I was angry.”

“You looked my initials first.”

He had no answer.

“You knew exactly what you holding.”

He put the other half on the table.

“I can fix .”

I laughed once.

“You sound like her.”

He winced.

I wrapped both pieces tissue.

stood there for maybe full minute.

Then he , “I’m still going away this weekend.”

I looked up.

The resort weekend had originally been planned as group trip before the wedding.

, two other childhood friends supposed to go.

The other two had backed out seeing ’s Instagram Story.

Apparently still going.

He , “We both need space.”

“You .”

“We have separate rooms.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“.”

I put the broken block into my bag.

He walked toward the door.

Then he stopped.

“I don’t know what you think you’re proving.”

“Nothing.”

“You barely talk to your mother’s side the family. Your dad is gone. Rachel lives across the country. Everyone here is connected to us.”

I slowly looked .

He , “Where exactly are you going to go?”

He didn’t say cruelly.

was almost the worst part.

He like practical question.

Like I had nowhere else.

Like my life outside was too small to count.

He .

hour later, while I was still sitting Dad’s worktable, my phone buzzed.

email.

Dr. Priya Shah the conservation lab.

had written two days earlier.

I had missed .

, our alternate candidate accepted another position. If your circumstances have changed you are still interested the fellowship, please call by Friday. We would be glad to revisit your offer.

I read three times.

Then I .

Three days later, while the resort, I packed.

I took my father’s letters.

The broken monogram block.

The carved plate.

My clothes.

My books.

My passport.

My grandmother’s dishes.

I the furniture.

I the wedding binder.

I my dress hanging the guest room closet.

I my ring on ’s desk.

Beside was business card.

Melissa Carter, Family Law Attorney.

Underneath, I wrote one sentence.

Please communicate through her.

I moved into temporary university housing Sunday night.

home Monday afternoon.

He eleven times.

I didn’t answer.

He texted.

Very funny. Call .

Then:

, enough.

Then:

We need to talk.

Then:

You cannot handle marriage through lawyer.

Then:

Where are you?

My attorney emailed the next morning.

, he stopped texting his own number.

He started calling his office.

Then his assistant’s phone.

Then his father’s.

I blocked all them.

According to Linda, who voicemail I never returned, was convinced I would be home by the end the week.

apparently agreed.

“ always comes back,” .

By Friday, he knew where I was.

Not because he hired someone to track .

Because he remembered the fellowship.

The one he had barely reacted to when I gave up.

He the university.

He the program administrator he was my husband.

He I had injured hand had Philadelphia during “ emotional episode.”

He asked whether could delay my start date until he to speak with .

The administrator could not discuss my schedule, medical information or employment status.

Then emailed documenting the call.

I forwarded to my lawyer.

afternoon, the lab again.

This time Dr. Shah answered.

, very calmly, I was adult professional under contract.

Whether I remained was my decision.

He asked when I had applied.

the application process had started months earlier.

He apparently , “So planned this.”

Dr. Shah corrected .

“No. declined the position because was getting married. accepted the position reopened.”

was the first detail he couldn’t twist.

I hadn’t been secretly planning escape.

I had chosen .

Then I stopped.

week later, he drove to .

with .

almost everything I needed to know.

The receptionist downstairs.

I I wasn’t seeing either them.

waited the lobby for almost two hours.

Then security asked them to leave.

The next day back.

This time the building manager if he continued showing up I had declined contact, would treat as harassment.

He .

evening, I walked out the library work found them across the street.

saw first.

rushed over.

“.”

I kept walking.

“, please.”

followed her.