Chapter 11
The day I was discharged from the hospital, David and I went to the County Clerk’s Office to register our divorce.
Afterward, David drove me back to our familiar residential community.
I sat in the car, refusing to get out. “Just drop me off at the hotel.”
David held out the house keys to me. “In the divorce settlement agreement, I’ve given this apartment to you. You can stay
here comfortably. I’ll transfer the rest of the money to you as soon as possible.”
I didn’t take them. “Oh, then sell it. I don’t want to go in there again. Being in there only makes my skin crawl and makes me
feel sick to my stomach.”
David took a deep breath, his voice low, “Fine!”
During the one–month cooling–off period, I enrolled myself in a post–baby body sculpting yoga class and analyzed the
post–resignation company decisions.
I planned to start my new life after the divorce.
Although Emily’s words that day had stung, they accurately reflected my current situation.
Nora’s life shouldn’t be like that. Nora’s life should be brilliant and shining!
In that month, I lost 10 pounds, feeling like a completely new person.
Although my face and body hadn’t fully recovered to their former state, I had regained some waist definition, lost my
double chin, and the pregnancy spots on my face had faded considerably.
The day David and I went to get our divorce decree, Emily showed up too.
She had gained quite a bit of weight over the past month, looking haggard and unkempt. She was a far cry from her
triumphant appearance a month ago.
From a distance, I saw her tugging at David, saying something. David shoved her away, causing her to stumble back a few
steps before crouching down and starting to cry.
Some nosy old folks nearby tried to intervene, “Hey, young man, look at your wife’s big belly. Why are you divorcing her?
What about the child’s future? Isn’t it better for a couple to live happily together?”
“Young man, don’t tell me the child isn’t yours?”
“Oh my, then you must divorce!”
As the old folks‘ comments became increasingly outrageous and the crowd of onlookers grew, David and Emily found
themselves trapped in the middle.
I had no choice but to throw a hundred–dollar bill on the ground and shout, “Who dropped their money?”
In an instant, the group of old busybodies abandoned their gossip and rushed towards the money.
