He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 10

He Thought I’d Always Stay—Then the Countdown Hit Zero Chapter 10

The weather finally cleared the next morning.

Riverton’s rainy season seemed to end that day.

Sunlight broke through the clouds and fell across the steps outside the Riverton County Family Court Clerk’s

Office.

At eight fifty, I stood at the bottom of the steps and watched a black car pull up to the curb.

Ethan got out.

He had lost so much weight that his cheekbones stood out.

His tailored suit now hung loosely from his body.

He had driven himself.

When he saw me, he stopped.

Several yards apart, we silently looked at each other.

The countdown still hovered above his head.

[3,648 days.]

I smiled.

The number no longer meant anything to me.

“Let’s go.”

I turned first and entered the building.

Ethan followed.

His steps sounded heavy, as though his shoes were filled with lead.

There weren’t many people inside.

There wasn’t even a line at the divorce counter.

The family court clerk accepted our documents and agreement before asking the routine question.

“Have you both thought this through? Is there no chance of reconciliation?”

I nodded.

“We’re certain.”

Ethan stood beside me.

One hand rested on the counter, clenched tightly into a fist.

A dark bruise remained on the back of it from the IV he had pulled out the previous day.

The clerk handed us two certified copies of the divorce decree.

“These are your certified copies. Your marriage is legally dissolved as of today.”

I took mine.

The official seal on the decree caught the overhead lights.

Ethan lifted his copy with a trembling hand.

He stared at the document as though it were a death sentence.

“Natalie.”

He stopped me.

His voice sounded dry and raw.

I turned toward him.

“That day…”

His eyes were red.

“The day I gave your blanket to Chloe in the storm, part of me thought you were being cold.”

At last, he told the truth.

“I thought you weren’t kind enough. That you weren’t doing enough to please me.”

“So I deliberately neglected you. I wanted to teach you to give in.”

I listened to his confession.

I had already guessed most of it.

His favoritism had come not only from uncontrolled sympathy, but also from a secret desire to punish me.

“I know”

My voice was calm.

“That’s why I don’t blame you.”

“I simply don’t need you anymore.”

I looked away and walked out of the Riverton County Family Court Clerk’s Office.

The sunlight outside was warm.

I reached the curb and hailed a cab.

As I opened the door, I glanced back.

Ethan was still standing on the courthouse steps, clutching the certified divorce decree in his hand.

He stared in my direction.

Above his head, the number that had once filled me with fear and uncertainty gradually turned transparent in

the sunlight.

Then came a faint pop.

It reached zero.

And vanished into the air.

I climbed into the cab.

“Riverton International Airport.”

The End