ManyWriters

Damien and I had been together for nine years, during which we divorced ten times.
The eleventh time, he was helping his mistress pick out an engagement ring.
"The young lady is pregnant, so we're putting on a show. Eight months from now, I'll remarry you."
"In the meantime, move out. I'll have meals delivered to you three times a day."
"Also, go get a postpartum care certification. Serenity is delicate and can't handle the hardships of childcare."
I held the divorce papers, nodding obediently.
As I was about to leave, I overheard his friend mocking him.
"Damien, you're something else. You've practically trained your sister-in-law to be a dog."
Damien boasted proudly, "That's nothing. Melody is such a cheap whore."
"Even if I don't remarry her, she'd still willingly help me raise the kid as my mistress."
I remained silent, quietly sending a message to the man on the other end of my phone.
"Got the divorce papers. When can we get married?"

Gentle Dissolution

Perhaps it had been too long since I'd heard such heartfelt words.


I broke down in tears in front of Dashiell.


I poured out everything I had experienced, exactly as it happened.


That night, Dashiell, who never touched cigarettes or alcohol, smoked cigars all evening.


He revealed the love he had buried deep in his heart for years.


"Melody, I've liked you since we were kids, but I was afraid of disrupting your happiness with Damien, so I could only take these feelings and move far away."


"I had no idea that bastard would treat you like this. If I had known, if I had only known... I would have married you no matter what back then."


"Melody, give me a chance to get you away from that bastard. Let me love you."


I sat beside Dashiell, listening to his story.


I felt a warmth I had never experienced before.


I finally realized that in this world, there was still someone who loved me.


It turns out that even someone like me is worthy of being loved.


Chapter 9