I'm going to die.

I’d been locked in a bitter war with Sean for almost a decade. He paraded around with a string of girlfriends, and I clung to half his fortune. We both held each other's weak spots, neither willing to back down. But today, I was finally ready to divorce him. Because…I was dying.

1

I stared at the diagnosis, my hand trembling slightly before I dialed Sean’s number.

"Where are you?"

"None of your business." We were husband and wife, but even asking about each other's whereabouts was considered an overstep.

"Come home," I tapped my fingers on the table. "We're getting a divorce."

"Ha," he scoffed before hanging up. Of course. I’d used this tactic too many times, mostly just as an excuse to see him.

He had every right not to believe me.

I waited two days. He didn't come home.

Looking at the paper that spelled out my expiration date, I decided I didn’t have a single second to waste. I grabbed my purse and walked out.

There was another way to find Sean, one that never failed.

"Knock, knock, knock!" I rapped sharply on the door. A delicate-looking girl opened it, her eyes wide with fear, as if I could shred her to pieces through the wood.

I rolled my eyes. "Hey, tell Sean to come home. Tell him I want a divorce. Make sure he gets the message. Out of all his girlfriends, I have the highest hopes for you. Once we’re divorced, maybe you’ll be Mrs. Sean."

Her eyes welled up. "Mrs. Lincoln…I never…"

I sighed, cutting her off. "Spare me the fake innocence. Just tell him. If he's not home by tomorrow, I'm breaking down this door and smashing your apartment. You think a fancy doorbell is going to stop me?"

I didn't bother waiting for a reply. I turned and left. If I knew Sean, I’d see him tonight. He treasured Chloe. He wouldn't tolerate me challenging her like this.

As dusk settled, he stormed into my apartment, fury etched on his face.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from Chloe?!"

I poured myself a glass of wine, taking my time. "So? What are you going to do about it?"

He was livid but powerless. All he could do was hurl insults. "I don’t understand what you get out of this! Chloe is obedient enough. We have no feelings for each other, you won’t divorce me, and you won’t even let me have someone I actually like!"

"You just want everyone to be as miserable and alone as you are!"

"Crash!" I slammed my glass on the floor, shattering it.

He was right. I was lonely. That's why I’d clung to him for all these years, refusing to let go even though our love had long since died.

"Yeah, I’m in hell. And you shouldn't get to be in heaven," I retorted, matching his anger.

But inside, I was exhausted. Every encounter with Sean for the past few years had been a battle. What was the point?

I poured another glass of wine, sat across from him, and slid the divorce papers across the table. "Sign it. Even if I'm going to hell, I don't want to see you there."

"We can’t stand each other alive; let’s not haunt each other after death!"

Sean scowled as he p...