Wife Swap - S01 E50

5 months ago

Wife Swap - S01 E50

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 50

I quickly rise from my seat as soon as I spot Mason walking through the doors. My heart skips a beat, my expectations shattered as he doesn't look the way I imagined him to be, contrary to what his mother and Lia have described. He's dressed impeccably, exuding a sense of confidence that catches me off guard. Our eyes meet, but his expression remains neutral, betraying no hint of emotion.

"You're an hour late," I scold him, attempting to assert control over the situation.

"I'm here now. Let's get this done with. Isn't that what you wanted?" he retorts, his glare piercing through me, momentarily shaking my confidence and the certainty of my victory.

Yes, this is what I wanted. A divorce that would set us free to pursue separate paths. So why do I feel this nagging sense of unease? Perhaps it's the remnants of our addictive cycle, where fights were followed by his relentless pursuit, and I had grown accustomed to that anticipation. Maybe it's the absence of his usual charms that's making me question my own desires.

I take a deep breath, reminding myself of my decision and the reasons behind it. This divorce was the necessary step towards reclaiming my independence and rebuilding my shattered self.

As we walk towards the receptionist's desk, the air hangs heavy with unspoken words. The room, with its worn-out chairs and faded wallpaper, seems to reflect the crumbling remnants of our marriage. I clutch the stack of paperwork in my hands, its weight mirroring the gravity of our impending separation.

Mason and I sit side by side, our silence punctuated only by the soft rustling of papers and the murmurs of other couples nearby. The questions on the forms delve into the intimate details of our shared lives, demanding painful admissions of failures and broken dreams. It's a solemn dance of reliving the past, a bittersweet reminder of what once was and what will never be again.

As I fill in my responses, the memories flood my mind—both the beautiful moments and the jagged fragments of heartache. The pen quivers in my grip, struggling to capture the complexity of emotions coursing through me. With every stroke, I release a piece of our history onto the page, watching our love story dissolve before my eyes.

Mason remains focused, his gaze fixed on the forms, his face a mask of detached determination. Gone are the traces of tenderness that once adorned his features. In this sterile environment, the truth stares back at us, unfiltered and unadorned.

Finally, we complete the paperwork, our signatures the final strokes of an ending we can no longer deny. We hand the forms to the receptionist, who accepts them with a detached nod, as if she has witnessed this ritual a thousand times before. Our divorce, it seems, is just another chapter in a story that repeats itself all too often.

As I walk out of the divorce offices, the weight of our failed marriage still lingers. Is this it? Am I single now? The reality isn't what I had imagined. I somehow feel like crying and shouting at Mason to come back, to give it another try. I'm scared. I had become too accustomed to my routine, even with all the pain it brought. Now I feel like a newborn, everything around me is strange. I struggle not to curl up into a ball and shut down from all the sensory overload I'm experiencing.

I sigh, remembering what Lia said to me this morning. "It's normal to feel that way, but it will pass." She always put on a smile throughout her own divorce. I didn't realize the turmoil she must have been feeling, especially with a child.

Looking around, I search for a place where I can walk and ease my distress. I decide to go to a place where I know I will be understood well.

I order an Uber, and once it arrives, I get in and give the driver directions. It stops outside Rome's apartment complex. Since the incident when he kissed me, neither of us has made any attempt to talk to each other. Fiona occasionally tries to bring him up, but I quickly change the topic.

I still have his keys, and he's probably at work. I plan to go in, relax for a bit, and leave before he returns. It's weird, but it's all I need right now. I smile when I find the door locked. I unlock it and as I walk in, I find Rome seated on his couch. His eyes widen when he sees me.

"I thought you were at work," I say.

"And you thought of breaking into my house?" he asks.

I shake my head. He's a mess, he turns his focus back to the TV, and I shut the door before walking towards him. I sit next to him and notice that he's watching my favorite crime shows.

"Do you think I'm capable of getting away with murder?" he asks.

My eyebrows shoot up. "Tell me, Athena, how fair is this world? I get cheated on, I'm bound to pay spousal maintenance to the same person, and on top of that, divide my assets. I worked so hard to buy this house and everything else," he says, and I can feel his pain.

I knew Mason would rather throw me off a cliff than give me anything. Luckily, I didn't want to touch the money Joy gave me until the divorce was finalized. I was afraid Mason would want a share just to spite me, as we were still legally married when Joy gave it to me. The same goes for the assets Debby left for me.

So far, I've heard that Esme isn't making it easy for Rome. She's making it seem like it's much cheaper to get back together than to get a divorce, and I don't know Rome's limit before he breaks. I've seen thousands of true crime shows, and this is how they start.

"Have you spoken to your lawyer?" I ask.

He nods.

"I worked hard, put our names on everything I acquired because we were a family. Never did I think that we would ever divorce. I'm a fool," he says, and this is the first time I see this vulnerable side of him.

I lean forward and hug him. He's caught by surprise, but he hugs me back. Now I'm the one feeling sad, and he's the one trying to console me.

"I thought I wasn't going to see you again," he murmurs.

"Me too," I whisper back.