Over the stadium, the sun was shining brightly in the afternoon, giving a pleasant warmth over the multitude of people sitting in folding chairs. The atmosphere was filled with the loud hum of talk, which was broken up by bursts of applause as graduates dressed in blue gowns made their way across the platform one by one. During the time that we were waiting for our daughter to be named, I sat with my husband, Martin, on my right, and our closest friends on my left.
This was supposed to be one of those days that only comes around once in a lifetime. For weeks, I had been planning for it, which included assisting Ava in selecting a white dress to wear underneath the gown, purchasing flowers, and organizing dinner reservations for a little party that would take place after the event. When I thought about it, I anticipated that we would take pictures of our family, laugh over memories from her school years, and possibly even shed a few tears of joy.
Instead, I sensed a tightness and unease in my gut, but I was unable to pinpoint the reason for this sensation. I attributed Martin’s recent lack of distance to the stress that he was experiencing at work. He would leave early and arrive home late, always with an explanation about “last-minute meetings” or “urgent projects.” He had been doing this for quite some time.
There was a loud boom of the principal’s voice coming from the microphone. Furthermore, Ava Martin is graduating with honors at this time.
This was the moment I had been anticipating for a very long time. As Ava made her way across the stage, she smiled with the self-assurance that is characteristic of her, and her brown hair sparkled in the sunlight. Because I was clapping so hard, my hands hurt, and my cheeks hurt because I was smiling so much. We were in the crowd when she saw us and waved, and I returned her gesture.
On the other hand, while I was concentrating on her, Martin stood at the podium and leaned near the microphone.
What’s going on? Why was he standing at the podium?
When I glanced around, I was perplexed to see him standing up. It was not at all expected of him to deliver any kind of speech.
Martin began by saying, “I have something to say,” and his voice was strong enough to silence the other people who were talking around him. My heart skipped a beat. When it came to surprises, this was not the spot.
In continuation, he stated, “I have made the decision to begin a new life without you, Lydia.”
It was as if I had been smacked in the face by the words. There was a crackling sound coming from the speakers, and at first I thought I had misheard him. When I looked into his eyes, I saw a glance that was icy and certain.
But without me.
No sound could be heard for a brief period of time. Suddenly, the clapping ceased. We heard a faint gasp coming from the direction of the row behind us. Even Ava, who was almost at her seat, stopped in the middle of her step.
As I struggled to comprehend what had just taken place in front of a large number of people, I took a deep breath and swallowed.
Martin had additional work to do. There is another person I’ve met. This day she is present.” He made a hazy gesture toward the back row, where I caught a glimpse of a flash of red—a dress that I was familiar with. I followed his motion with my eyes, and they eventually landed on a face that caused my stomach to turn.
This is Tessa.
There was more to her than “someone else.” For many years, she had been a member of our group of friends, and she had been invited to our Christmas dinners, birthday parties, and even barbecues. While she was seated with our friends, who were also my friends, she had a small smile on her face, as if everything was absolutely acceptable.
It seemed as if a wave of silence would wash across the gathering. The heads turned. People were whispering. I could sense each and every one of the eyes that were on me.
I was on the verge of crying. I was able to let out a scream. I, on the other hand, smiled—a smile that was composed and measured, and it appeared to stun even him.
The tone of my voice remained calm as I congratulated you on your level of honesty.
After that, I stood up.
While I was reaching into my purse, the legs of the chair made a scraping sound against the cement. I took out an envelope that was thick and cream-colored, and it had his name printed in black ink in a nice and organized fashion on the front.
I had been carrying it for several weeks, but I never really considered the possibility that I would hand it over to him in public.
Without without uttering a single word, I handed it to him and then walked away.
There was still no sound coming from the throng, with the exception of the little rustling of the programs and the awkward shuffling of feet. As he opened the envelope, I heard the paper tear, but I didn’t look back to see what was happening.
Subsequently, his voice emerged, vehement, indignant, and incredulous.
“What in the name of jest is this?!”
It was his remarks that followed me as I continued to walk. Ahead of them were the doors to the stadium.
Not once did I stop.
Three weeks prior, I had discovered the initial piece of information.
During the time that Martin was taking a shower, he had set his phone down on the kitchen counter. For the most part, I did not pry. It had been 22 years since we had tied the knot, and I had faith in him. On the other hand, a text appeared on the screen, presented in a preview that was sufficient to grab my attention.
It was Tessa who sent it.
“The night before was incredible. It’s impossible to quit thinking about you.
It became icy in my hands. Because my fingers were moving faster than my brain, I was able to unlock the phone. The chat was lengthy, in-depth, and very personal.
Photographs were present.
There were dates, the majority of which took place in the nights, when he had informed me that he was working late.
I could feel a tightening in my chest, but I refrained from screaming or confronting him immediately away. Instead, I began to dig into the matter further. Using our shared credit card statements and our bank account, I checked both of them. The luxury rooms, the pricey dinners, and the jewelry that I had never seen before all came with additional fees.
Not only was he having an affair, but he was also using the money that we had together to finance it.
During the following day, I went to see a lawyer. Through my research, I discovered that in our state, evidence of infidelity and the misuse of marital assets can have a significant impact on the terms of a divorce settlement. My attorney suggested that I acquire evidence in a very unobtrusive manner.
Yes, I did it.
I printed up bank statements, captured screenshots, and even snapped pictures of them together when I saw them at a café by taking pictures of them together. The moment I laid eyes on them, I had the sensation that my heart was being ripped in half, but I managed to keep my expression neutral and my hands calm.
When it was time for me to graduate, I had everything with me that I required.
The envelope that I delivered to Martin was not simply a letter; rather, it was a collection of evidence that had been well organized. It contained screenshots of texts, copies of receipts, photographs, and an official notification from my attorney stating that divorce proceedings had been launched.
Following my departure from the stadium, I did not go home. On the contrary, I made a direct trip to the residence of my sister Marissa. I had always relied on her as a secure retreat.
The door was opened by her with a bewildered expression on her face as I arrived. Is that Lydia? In this place, what are you doing? Aren’t we celebrating Ava’s graduation right now?
I entered the house, placed my suitcase on the couch, and then I finally allowed my composure to become compromised. My eyes began to brim up with tears, and I was unable to stop them from falling.
My voice was shaking as I said, “He came out and announced it.” “As everyone else is watching. He informed me that he is going to leave me for Tessa.
As a sign of her astonishment, Marissa’s eyes widened. “Did he do that at the graduation ceremony for your daughter?”
As I wiped my cheeks, I nodded my head. ‘I handed the envelope over to him. “I did not remain to listen to the remainder.”
I felt her embrace me fiercely. “That’s good. It is not fair for him to witness you disintegrate.
The repercussions were felt almost immediately.
The news had already made its way around our town by that evening. We received phone calls and texts from friends, some of whom expressed regret for their lack of knowledge, while others admitted that they had suspected something but chose not to become involved.
The next day, Ava came to meet me at my place. She had not yet recovered from the event that occurred during her graduation, and she was caught between feelings of resentment toward her father and grief over the disintegration of her family.
“I can’t believe he did that to you… to us,” she continued with a husky voice. “I can really believe it.”
“I know,” I responded to her. “However, we will prevail over it. We continue to be a family, both you and I.”
The moment she gave me a hug, I experienced a glimmer of optimism for the first time in what seemed like days.
It was not warmly received by Martin, on the other hand.
Over the course of the following week, he relentlessly called and texted me. Some of the texts were aggressive, accusing me of embarrassing him in front of other people. Several individuals were begging with me, requesting that I “settle this privately” and “not ruin his reputation.”
I did not give a response. I had that done for me by my attorney.
To tell you the truth, he had completely damaged his own reputation. There were a few of our friends who shared the same interests who had already separated themselves from him and Tessa. Even those who made an effort to maintain their neutrality were unable to conceal their dissatisfaction.
There was a point in time when Martin showed up at Marissa’s residence and began to pound on the door. I remained in the back as Marissa responded to the question.
She sternly warned him, “You have no choice but to leave.” The statement “Lydia does not wish to see you”
It was his insistence that “I just want to talk.” The entire situation is a misunderstanding.
An misunderstanding, perhaps? Marissa arched her brow in surprise. “Not only did you cheat with someone she trusted, but you also humiliated her in public. How could one possibly be that wrong?
He left, but not before muttering something about how I was “making things worse.” He stated that he was leaving.
The weeks went by.
Because of the overwhelming evidence, the divorce process was completed in a short amount of time. A major chunk of his retirement assets, the property, and complete ownership of my little business, which he had attempted to claim partial control over in the past, were all given to me by the court.
Almost immediately after that, Tessa and Martin moved in together, but their relationship was already beginning to show signs of breaking down. I was told by people we both knew that they were frequently fighting, primarily about financial matters and his reputation in the public eye.
After several months, Ava did not come to see them. At long last, she did, and upon her return, she was seen shaking her head. “It’s almost as if she’s my mother,” she replied with a sour tone. This is a repulsive thing.
I was sitting on my balcony with a cup of tea and listening to the sound of rains falling on the roof on a wet evening around six months after I had graduated from an institution. Despite the fact that Ava had just left for college orientation, the home was completely silent.
A message rang on my phone, and it buzzed. It was Martin who sent it.
The text said, “I have made a mistake.” “I yearn for you. Is it possible for us to talk?
After staring at the screen for a considerable amount of time, I finally deleted the message without providing a response.
mostly due to the fact that I honestly did not miss him.
Over the course of the months that had passed since that terrible day, I had piece by piece rebuilt myself. I started going to yoga classes, I joined a book club, and I even went on a couple dates that were really just casual. I came to see that my value was not contingent on the fact that I was someone’s wife.
The day that he stood up at our daughter’s graduation, believing that he could control the narrative, was the day that I seized control of my own narrative.
On the other hand, I had no intention of giving up on that.