PART 2: THE MIDNIGHT DEPARTURE
I packed my laptop, my passport, my birth certificate, and every single bank document proving I had funded half of this house.
I looked around the master bedroom one last time, watching Rodrigo sleep peacefully, completely indifferent to the burden he had piled onto my shoulders.
Walking back down to the kitchen, I took the red-inked cooking list from the counter and taped it securely to the center of the refrigerator.
Beside it, I placed my gold wedding band directly on top of a frozen block of uncleaned shrimp.
I didn’t turn off the lights, and I didn’t leave a dramatic note; I simply grabbed my bag, opened the front door, and walked out into the quiet night.
The cool air felt like freedom as I got into my car and drove straight toward the international airport.
By two in the morning, I was sitting near the departure gate with a hot coffee, watching the flight status board light up.
I booked a one-way ticket to my sister’s place across the country, turning my phone onto airplane mode just as the boarding call began.
(The chaos back at the house is about to erupt! Click “Next Page” to continue reading…)
