Fate || BENNIFER

Free

Ben's P.O.V - That same morning

The sound of a notification pinged through the air and I stirred in bed. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up, and reached for my phone on the nightstand. Squinting in the darkness, I saw that it was a message from my lawyer. My heart sank as I read the urgent request from the mother of my children, realizing that I would have to leave right away and that I would probably miss a very important doctor's appointment with Jennifer.

I looked over at her, still fast asleep. I didn't want to disturb her, but I knew I couldn't ignore that message. It was too important.

With great care, I got out of bed, grabbing my clothes from the drawer and heading quietly to the bathroom. The silence was almost eerie as I dressed, feeling the early morning chill on my skin. The sun hadn't even risen yet.

As I put on my shoes, I glanced at Jennifer sleeping as she hugged her pillow, and a pang of guilt shot through me. I hated having to leave that way. I crept back to the bed to give her a quick kiss on the forehead, hoping it would be enough to let her know I was thinking of her.

I climbed behind the wheel and tried to check my phone one more time, but I had forgotten to charge it the night before and now it was dead. I started the car and pulled out of the driveway. The road was quiet. I let out a sigh, feeling a sense of relief. I drove in silence, taking in the world around me. I could see the first pinkish-orange rays of the sun starting to creep over the horizon.

I began to feel more and more awake, my mind awakening as my body did. As I turned off the main road and onto the smaller, winding streets that would take me to my destination, the sky began to lighten. My last thought before stepping out of the car was one that would accompany me for the next hours.

I couldn't believe I was on my way to the court to file the divorce papers. It had taken months, but the time had finally come. I spotted my lawyer sitting by one of the courtrooms and made my way over to him. He stood up and shook my hand, but they made us wait a few hours after that and before he could usher me into the courtroom.

My eyes scanned the faces, searching for the one I knew so well. And then I saw her, my soon-to-be ex-wife, sitting with her own lawyer. She looked at me, and our eyes met across the room. There was a momentary pause, and then she nodded, an almost imperceptible movement.

It was easier than I expected. She took the pen, and I saw her hesitate for just a moment before finally signing her name. The divorce was declared final, and I stood up, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. She stood up as well, and walked up to me.

"I'm sorry." She said softly.

"See you Sunday afternoon, to pick up the kids." I said with a little nod and a slight smile.

I walked out of the courtroom with my lawyer by my side, finally feeling a sense of closure.

"You're free." He said. "What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going with my future wife." The biggest smile drew on my face.

I had been hopeful that the process would be over soon, but a last-minute delay had pushed it later into the day and I completely missed a very important moment with Jennifer. I checked my wristwatch, the one Jennifer had given me a decade before, and I heaved a sigh of frustration. As I walked down the steps, I barely noticed the people around me coming and going, their faces lost in a blur of impatience and exhaustion as I only wanted to get home.

It was a short drive home, but the traffic was clogged up and I had to make several stops along the way. But I was very close and elated that that chapter of our life was over.