Someone Older

Chapetr 14

No p.o.v

Annie sat at the kitchen table, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The house was quiet, a rare moment of peace with the Raven and Aurora gone. She heard William's footsteps approaching and felt a familiar knot tighten in her stomach. This conversation was long overdue, but today, she had to see it through.

William walked in, looking more worn than she'd seen him in years. There was a hopeful light in his eyes, the kind that would have softened her resolve once upon a time. He sat down across from her, a tentative smile on his face.

"Hey," he said, reaching out to touch her hand. "I was thinking, maybe we could take a weekend away. Just us. I know I've been... distant, but I'm trying, Annie. I want to make things right."

Annie swallowed, pulling her hand back slowly. She couldn't avoid this any longer. "William, we need to talk."

His smile faltered, and he leaned back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

She took a deep breath, her voice calm but firm. "I know about the affairs, William. I've known for a long time."

The color drained from his face, and for a moment, he looked like he might deny it. But then his shoulders slumped, and he nodded. "Annie, I'm so sorry. I was stupid, selfish. But I'm ready to change. I've been changing. I want to be better for you, for us."

"I know you do," she said quietly, her heart heavy with the weight of what she was about to say. "But it's too late, William. I've stayed all these years for the kids, not for us. And now... I'm not in love with you anymore."

He stared at her, shock and disbelief etched on his face. "Annie, no... don't say that. We can fix this. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll prove to you that I can be the husband you deserve."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She needed to be strong, for both of them. "I believe that you're trying, William. I do. But I can't keep pretending that things can go back to the way they were. Too much has happened. Too much has been broken. I'm tired of being the only one holding it all together."

He shook his head, his voice breaking. "Please, Annie, don't do this. We have a family. We've been together for fifteen years. You can't just walk away."

"I'm not walking away from the kids," she said softly. "I'll always be their mother, and we'll always be their parents. But I can't stay in this marriage anymore. It's been killing me slowly, and I need to let go before there's nothing left of me."

William's face crumpled, and for the first time in years, she saw him cry. He reached out for her, but she stood up, stepping back. "Annie, please... I love you."

"I wish that was enough," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But it isn't. I want a divorce, William. I need to be free of this, of us."

He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Annie felt her heart breaking, but she knew this was the right thing to do. They couldn't keep living in this lie, not anymore.

After a few moments, William looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen. "What about the kids? How are we going to tell them?"

"We'll tell them together," she said, her voice steadier now. "We'll make sure they know that this isn't their fault, that we both love them more than anything. And we'll figure out the rest, one step at a time."

William nodded slowly, the fight leaving him as reality set in. "I never meant to hurt you, Annie. I thought I could change, make it right..."

"I know," she said, a sad smile on her lips. "But some things can't be fixed. And that's okay. We'll find a new way forward, for all of us."

She turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving William sitting at the table, alone with his regrets. Annie didn't look back. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in years, she felt a sense of relief. She was finally doing what she needed to do, for herself and for her children. And that gave her the strength to keep moving