Becky and I had spent a month solid on the road, before getting a break. We were granted two days off, a much needed rest.
We were sitting on the couch, nursing our injuries. I sat with an ice pack on my knee, my leg elevated. Becky had her shoulder wrapped up. We were sort of paying attention to the TV, chatting idly, when the door buzzed.
"I'll get it." Becky said, patting my good leg.
"Mrs. Morgan?" I heard a man's voice ask as she opened the door.
"I'm sorry, there is no Mrs. Morgan here." She replied curtly.
"Mrs. Sandra Katherine Brooks Morgan."
I groaned as I removed the ice pack. "I'm she." I said, appearing behind my friend.
"Sign here please." He told me, handing me a clipboard. I gave Becky a sideways glance as I accepted it, signing my name on the dotted line.
"Thank you, Mrs. Morgan." He said, handing me a long padded envelope.
"No one has called me that in a long time." I said after I had shut the door.
"What's up?" She asked.
"It can only be one thing." I said, sitting down at the kitchen table and opening it up.
Yep. A notice to appear in court regarding the divorce preceding.
"Are you okay?" Becky asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I guess I should get a lawyer." I softly said.
Becky slid an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me tight.
A month later, I sat with my lawyer at a table across from a judge and Xander with his lawyer.
"Although my client and I agree that there was wrong doing on his part." Xander's lawyer began. "I hardly feel that this is warranted. Mrs. Morgan willingly entered a prenuptial agreement-"
"Which states that it would be broken if Mr. Morgan committed infidelity, which he has freely admitted." My lawyer argued.
"Due to the relatively short amount of time they were married-"
"One year isn't that short." My lawyer once again cut him off.
"Gentlemen." I raised my voice, stopping the arguments. "I don't care about the money. I have plenty of my own. Let's just separate our assets."
"But you are the wronged party." My lawyer said, turning to me and dropping his voice. "Do you know how much you stand to gain by fighting this?"
"There's more to life than money." I told him.
A part of me wanted to be vengeful and take Xander's money out of spite. It was one of the causes that led to us splitting up, with his mother bribing him after all. Ultimately, I didn't care. I didn't want to hurt Xander like he hurt me.
"My husband cares more about his wallet than he does me anyway. It's only right that he gets to keep one."
"That's not true." Xander said.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.
"No, not whatever." Xander reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "I still love you."
"Then what the hell have you been doing?" I challenged. "All this paperwork, that woman living in our townhouse, sleeping in our bed."
Xander let go of my hand, suddenly unable to meet my eyes.
"Okay, well, I guess the two parties are in agreement." The judge said, looking uncomfortable.
"Yes, sir." My lawyer looked at me for assurance, which I nodded.
The judge slid a piece of paper over to Xander, who looked at me briefly before taking the pen from his lawyer.
"Wait." I reached out, stopping his pen stroke. "You still have the power to stop this. If you truly mean what you say, and you want to be with me, we can fight through this together. There's still a way."
Xander's normally crystal blue eyes were clouded with emotion. He covered my hand with his, giving a gentle squeeze.
"I've never been as strong as you, Sandy. That's not how I was raised."
"So let me be strong enough for both of us." I implored him.
"I can't. I love you, but this is how it needs to be." He said. "It's too late."
I watched as he signed the document then slid it over to me. "Alright."
I was tired of fighting. I felt the last bit of my heart shatter as I signed the document.
That was it. Legally, it was over.
I looked down at my left hand, still wearing the wedding bands. I shook as I slipped it off my finger for the last time, placing the rings in front of him.
"Maybe Charlotte wears a size seven." I told him.
"I am sorry." Tears swelled up in his eyes.
"I've heard that word so much that it has no meaning."
"Ms. Brooks, best of luck to you." The judge said, taking the paperwork from me.
I was numb by the time I shook my lawyer's hand and left the conference room.
I sat in the dark in my room for hours, staring off into space. I heard Becky knock, but made no movement to open the door.
Rachel and Becky sat down opposite of me, placing me in the middle. Each one took one of my hands, not saying anything for several minutes. I was the first to break the silence.
"It's a strange feeling." I said, my voice void of emotion.
"Knowing that it's really over?" Rachel asked.
"No. It's been over, I just didn't really admit it till now. I was still in fighting mode." I responded.
"Then what's strange?" My sister asked, laying her head down on my shoulder.
"The feeling of when hope dies."
