THE AFTERMATH

PROLOGUE

He didn't take everything when he left.

He was a messy packer.

He threw my heart and soul

into his suitcase with his socks.

But he left his memory everywhere.

-Alpha-

'All rise!' the voice of the clerk of court startles me as I am so lost in my thoughts. We all rise and respect court session protocols as the judge assumes her seat in the front. There are not so many people in the court room since we don't have so many friends or family who cared enough to attend.

I steal a glance at Michael as he takes his seat next to his lawyer. They are both wearing black suits and are looking incredible handsome and smart. His tie is a bit misplaced though, I always made effort to fix it before he headed to work all the years we stayed together.

I can't believe it has already been one year since we separated. At first I thought it was enough time for us to make up and revive our broken marriage but I guess I was just wishing upon the fairy tales.

The court session is very short because our divorce is uncontested.

We see no reason in fighting fate. It is the inevitable. I just want all of this to be over already. In as much as I appreciate that this has to be done and my marriage is officially over, my heart yeans for the love we once shared with Michael.

I am officially a divorcee as I walk out of the courtroom arm in arm with my lawyer dragging my heavy feet towards the car. Michael doesn't even wait up to chit chat as I see him hurriedly make his way to his car parked across the street.

This is how it ends, a once beautiful, flourishing marriage turning into nothing within a matter of seconds.

Let me call my father even if he said he doesn't want to hear from me again. In his own words he said to me, 'You are a total disgrace to this family. I didn't raise a poorly mannered daughter who pushes a husband away. Don't talk to my daughters either, you will teach them bad behavior and they will end up leaving their husbands' homes just like you did. You disgust me!'

The phone rings once, twice and thrice. No one picks up.

I stop trying and close that chapter of my life too.

My name is Alina, I am a rejected wife and daughter.

The heavy burdens of wearing the crown of a divorced wife and disowned daughter weigh me down heavily and slow my pace as I experience the aftermath of my emotional disaster in this new life I begin today.