I went to a law firm and obtained divorce papers.
I once believed we would be the happiest couple in the world. Now, we were nothing but the world’s cruelest joke.
When I returned home, Sarah greeted me cheerfully, as if nothing had happened.
“My handsome Michael, you’re finally back. Come eat!”
“You love horseback riding, so tomorrow I’ll take you to a riding club with some friends from France.”
I pulled my hand away from Sarah’s, putting distance between us.
The wounds she had left on my heart were too deep—I had no interest in talking to her.
When she noticed my cold reaction, Sarah grew nervous.
She finally realized my expression was not as it usually was.
Because I truly had a fever, and my body temperature was rising steadily.
Sarah rushed to help me onto the couch, fumbling to find medicine to feed me.
But before she could bring it, a phone call interrupted her.
She said it was a friend from France calling, something urgent to discuss.
“Why are you calling now? I told you I’d be with Michael during the day. I’ll come see you tonight.”
“Sweetheart, go pick up the package. I bought us plenty of little toys. Tomorrow, we’ll try a risky horse-riding game. Isn’t that exciting?”
When Sarah heard those words, her face lit up with excitement. Mine, however, was filled with sorrow.
She had put the call on speaker, so I heard everything.
So the horseback riding was just an excuse. What they craved was the thrill of nearly being discovered.
Sarah forgot all about my medicine. Her fingers slackened, the pills dropped to the floor, and she rushed out to get her package.
Strangely, I wasn’t as heartbroken anymore. I had begun to erase every good memory I ever had of her.
The next day, I didn’t want to go out, but Sarah forced me.
She had never been this insistent before. I didn’t know when her love for me had soured into something else.
At the riding club, her friends mocked me in French.
“His wife is about to play that horse-riding sex game with someone else, and this idiot still doesn’t know.”
“We’re so cruel, all teaming up to humiliate this broke loser.”
“Ha! Just because he married Sarah, he thinks he’s our brother-in-law? Please. He’s not even worthy to clean up after Daniel.”
“Enough! Don’t insult him, or you’ll answer to me.”
I thought I’d be angry, but strangely, I wasn’t.
Daniel suddenly pulled out a wild, untamed horse and handed it to me.
“Michael, this is a fine horse—ride it.”