Installed in a hotel, I opened my suitcase to see the clothes I had put in a hurry. I sighed when I realized that I hadn't taken a lot of underwear and that my makeup kit wasn't found. Dresses took almost all the place. Tailors and sticky dresses.

I sighed again and let my tears flow. I wiped them furiously before seizing the divorce sheet. A paper that set the path for a new life. Alone.

I put the sheet in the suitcase and tried to sleep. But my eyes stayed open without finding sleep. I thought of our life. That perfect life we ​​shared before this woman came to ruin everything.

The next day I went back to work with a letter of resignation in my hand. I wanted to leave, to flee from this city, from this place that reminded me too much of my past. My life that I thought was perfect. I worked as if nothing had happened, but my lack of sleep began to be felt towards the end of the day. My boss even came knocking at my door several times, when it was my job to satisfy his needs.

At the end of the work, I knocked at his door and gave him my letter of resignation. He was shocked by the announcement. I confessed that I wanted to leave this city, take a little vacation to rest. I thanked him for all the years I spent with him. He remained silent for a long time listening very seriously. At the end of my speech, he let out a sigh of frustration. He knew my decision was made. I appreciated the fact that he didn't put forward arguments to hold me back.

When I closed the door, I heard him swear as he passed a hand through his hair. He shook his head as he got up. The door closed, but his attitude puzzled me. Why was he so touched by my resignation? Did he love me? No, I couldn't fall back into the trap of love. I preferred to solidify my heart with brick ramparts that no wolf could blow.

I took all my things in the office and put them in a suitcase I had brought. I embraced my colleagues who complained of not having a party for my departure. I thanked them for all these years and then left the glass building.

I went back to my hotel and put my papers in the only suitcase I had time to take. I did not want to go home. I did not want to see him again. My cell phone was full of missed calls and unread messages from David. Too curious, I opened the messages to see that he was worried about me. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I put the laptop in front of me and looked at it hoping someone would tell me what to do. I sighed and picked up my phone. I dialed his number and waited for him to pick up. I tortured my hair with anxiety. I didn't know what to tell him. I was an idiot. I wanted to hang up, but he picked up at that very moment.

"Hello? Alicia?" he asked. His voice sounded tired, but also full of hope.

"Yes," I answered, talking as detached as possible.

"Oh, my lord! You're okay? Where are you?!

"I am a big girl. I can manage things on my own."

"Yes, I know, that's not what I wanted to tell you. I was worried about you," he said hastily.

"Well, you don't have to worry. You just broke my heart, but it doesn't matter. You just slept with this whore in our house, but it's not gaunt. You have deceived me for I don't know how long! You lied to me! You humiliated me! You broke me completely! But it's not big deal!

"I am..."

"In two months you will receive a courier from the court. We will meet there."

I hung up before he gave me a refusal or a pardon. Under the rage, I sent my phone to the other end of the room. But I regretted my gesture as soon as I heard the shock and the different parts of it on the ground.

I dropped my head against the blankets, and sobbed all my grief. The sheets stifled my cries of distress and wiped away my tears of sadness. I fell asleep under the fatigue of my devastating emotions.

Two months later, the judge validated our divorce claim amicably. Fortunately, David accepted this judgment without appeal. Relieved by the turn of events, I went back to my apartment that I had managed to find. A decent and not very expensive flat in the province. I remained almost daily cloistered in my new home. I navigated on the web aimlessly, walked through the city without knowing what I was going to do. Long and boring days.

I was known as the recluse, the stranger in the complex where I lived. It didn't bother me as long as they didn't shout at me. In front of the mirror, I put a bun and hoped that my puffy eyes wouldn't see too much. I had a hard time sleeping, which meant many trips to the doctor. I hesitated to go see a psychologist, but I really needed to talk to someone. A friend, or someone else.

The lack of contact was felt, so I put on a floral dress and left to the park not far from home. I sat down on a bench and watched two boys play with a ball. I didn't see their parents, but they seemed to be having a good time.

The taller shoots slightly and aimed at the feet of the smallest so that it catches up with ease. I smiled at their complicity. However, I realized that I had laid my hand on my flat, lifeless stomach.

I didn't even know if he was a boy or a girl. And never would. My eyes pricked under the memories, I blinked several times to prevent the tears from flowing. I breathed a good blow to restore my courage. It was not the end of the world. I could always give birth. If only I could forget David....

I got up and walked in the street looking at the shop windows. I didn't expect to buy anything, but it didn't hurt to admire the beautiful dresses. While I was walking with my head turned, I saw a man advance in front of me. He didn't slow down and didn't seem to have seen me. I was ready to avoid it by walking on the side, but his face froze me on the spot.

He looked like my old boss. Feature by feature. But this man had a little beard and uncapped hair. His blue eyes peered at me with something resembling anger. He passed me by swearing. I realized that I had stopped straight in front of him and that I was hampering him.

I stammered an excuse, but he already passed me. I looked at his back continuing his course. It was impossible to see him like that in the street. My boss would surely have recognized me anyway.

I shook my head and went back to my apartment. I returned to be welcomed by nothing but the void. No voices, no people, no children... Nothing.

Cuddling, accompanying smiles, I was missing everything. And yet, I had to continue to live like that. Continue to live alone. Without a man. That was my only prospect at that moment. And I hoped to keep this commitment and never fall in love again. Love is beautiful, but has too many setbacks. A cutting edge that breaks your heart and leaves you bruised.