Jonah was radiant that day, his dark hair neatly combed and his tailored suit fitting him perfectly. He was the picture of a perfect husband, the very image of the man I had adored. Yet now, I could only feel a bitter sense of irony.
This time, I wouldn't let his grand gestures blind me.
"Jonah," I began, my voice calm yet distant, "can I ask you something? Why do you never call me Sasha? Everyone else does. My family, my friends… yet, you've always called me Rosa."
The question made him falter. For the first time that evening, his confident demeanor cracked. His brows knitted together in confusion and he tilted his head slightly, as if buying himself time to think. "Why are you asking this out of the blue?"
I forced a small smile. "Don't you think Sasha sounds closer, more intimate than Rosa?"
He stiffened, his mouth opening and closing as though searching for the right words. Finally, he chuckled nervously, waving off the question. "What are you talking about? Alright, go get dressed. I made reservations for dinner. You'll love it."
Jonah was deflecting, just as I had expected. But his inability to answer made my chest ache in ways I couldn't describe. It felt as though my heart was being wrung dry, drop by drop.
Looking at him, I felt a surge of determination. I wouldn't let myself be deceived this time. My hands clenched into fists as I suppressed the bitterness rising in my throat. When I finally spoke, my voice was soft but firm.
"Jonah, let's get a divorce."
The words hung in the air, sharp and final. His cheerful expression froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What's wrong, Rosa?" His voice cracked slightly, his usual confidence replaced by panic. "Did something happen? Is it because I wasn't with you earlier today? I went to get a tattoo! I wanted to surprise you! I thought you'd like this…"
I cut Jonah off coldly, my voice steady but laced with bitterness. "Jonah, do you truly love me? We only dated for half a year before getting married, but now it's clear we're not meant for each other."
He froze, his hand mid-air as if reaching to take mine, his usual confident smile faltering. I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the weight of my own words. "Just let me go, Jonah."