No Old Love on the Other Side

Wyatts little canary was throwing a tantrum again.

He slid the divorce papers across the table to me. Sign them. Its just for show, to keep the girl happy.

My fingers tightened on the fabric of my skirt, but I nodded, quietly signing my name.

As I was leaving, I heard one of his friends laugh. Man, your wife is way too agreeable. You could probably ask her to get the marriage license for you and your new girl, and she wouldnt make a peep.

Wyatt lit a cigarette, a smirk in his voice. Wanna bet?

They made a wager. That in one month, at City Hall, I would be sobbing my eyes out, but I would still do as I was told. I would trade our marriage certificate for a decree of divorce.

I clutched my phone, saying nothing. I just replied to the message that had just come in:

Just marry me. Cant you?

I can.

2

?

The reply was almost instantaneous.

I switched off my phone screen. The sound of laughter still spilled from the office.

Alright, its a deal! If shes really that obedient, drinks for the next month are on me!

Make it three months, Wyatt said.

Done, done!

A chorus of laughter and jeers.

I fled, stumbling out of the office building and into the sharp, blinding sunlight. Only then did the tears begin to stream down my face.

Wyatt had his eyes on a college girl. He bought her a sprawling condo in Seabrook City, filling it with a kings ransom in luxury goods. But the girl wouldnt let him kiss her, wouldnt let him hold her. She lived in a 4,000-square-foot penthouse, draped in haute couture that cost more than a car, and yet shed jut out her chin and declare, I will not be a homewrecker!

Wyatt found it endlessly amusing.

This was the third time hed put on a show for her.

The first time, hed staged a grand display of affection with me. I didnt know about Sadie then. Id wrapped my arms around him, giddy with joy as we took dozens of photos. When he posted a whole carousel on Instagram, my heart swelled with a mixture of surprise and anticipation. But no matter how many times I refreshed my feed, I couldn't see it. I found out later hed set the posts privacy to Visible only to Sadie.

The second time, he picked a fight with me. He left me stranded on a street corner and sent Sadie a picture of me crying alone in the rain.

See? Im stuck. She cant live without me.

And the third time, he was divorcing me.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out.

Are you serious?

You really mean it?

Josephine.

I wiped away my tears and managed a small, bitter smile.

Im serious.

3

That afternoon, Wyatt took me to City Hall, just as hed planned. He was in a fantastic mood the entire way, chattering about where I wanted to go for our third anniversary.

Wyatt and I had grown up together. This was our third year of marriage.

How about Prague? he suggested. Youve been begging to feed the pigeons in the Old Town Square since you were seven.

He got out, walked around to my side, and unbuckled my seatbelt. His brow furrowed as he noticed my face. Hey, have you been crying?

He gently brushed a thumb under my eye. I told you, its just an act. Shes just a little bird in a cage. Im just curious to see how long it takes for her to finally give in.

As he spoke, something fell from his pocket.

A box of condoms.

Wyatt cleared his throat and rubbed his nose, offering no explanation.

He led me into City Hall. It all went smoothly.

I have selective mutism. When I'm around strangers or under stress, the words just won't come out. But I can nod and shake my head.

Is this divorce voluntary?

Yes. I nodded.

Do you confirm the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage?

Yes. I nodded again.

Theres a mandatory thirty-day cooling-off period. Youll need to return in one month to finalize.

Wyatt took the receipt. He snapped a picture of it before wed even left the building and tapped out a message. My phone buzzed in sync. It was from Sadie, as usual. A forwarded image of the receipt from Wyatt, with his message attached:

Satisfied? Now go get ready for me tonight.

I tapped her profile picture and blocked her. A moment later, a flight confirmation email arrived, followed by a text.

Flight booked. See you in a month.

Paris is waiting.

4

That night, my dreams were full of Wyatt.

The Wyatt from our childhood, his words as sweet as honey.

Josie, your eyes are so pretty. Can I look at them whenever I talk to you?

Josie, you play the piano so beautifully. Can I come listen to your concert every day?

Josie, I like you the most! When we grow up, Im going to marry you!

And I loved him, too. We had to be desk partners at school, had to play together after class. I was even in his familys car when my parents got into their accident, playing rock-paper-scissors with him.

The two cars had been so close.

I saw it all. The semi-truck barreling through the intersection.

BOOM

My father, my mother, my older brother, even the little dog Id had since I was a puppy all of them, swallowed by an inferno.

For a long time after that, I couldn't make a sound. I needed Wyatt beside me just to fall asleep. He was so patient back then. He helped me practice speaking, read me stories all night long. If anyone dared to call me a mute, hed meet them with a clenched fist.

Marrying him felt like the most natural thing in the world. The day after I got my college diploma, he was leaning over my bed at dawn. Josie, he whispered, lets go get another certificate.

That day, we became husband and wife.

In my dream, our new home was buried in a sea of crimson roses. He knelt on the bed, kissing me with such tenderness. He promised wed be this happy for the rest of our lives.

But when I woke up, the world was pitch black.

I fumbled for my phone. Another text from Sadie.

It was a photo. Messy, tangled sheets, and on them, a single, damning smear of crimson.

A wave of nausea crashed over me. I bolted to the bathroom, retching until only bitter tears came out. I ended up curled on the cold tile, hugging my knees. I don''t know what I pressed on my phone, but in the dead silence of the night, a low, deep voice suddenly spoke.

Josephine?

My heart leaped. I snatched the phone.

Sebastian?

5

Sebastian was a fellow patient.

After three years of therapy, my selective mutism had improved significantly. It only flared up when I was deeply upset or anxious. During the first two years of my marriage to Wyatt, I was almost completely cured. With time on my hands and a lighter heart, I had joined an online support group.

My assigned partner was Sebastian.

For two years, I genuinely thought he was a girl. His avatar was a pink bunny, and his screen name was Angel. At first, she barely responded to me. But I understood. People like us, burdened by years of silence, are often dealing with deep-seated trauma. We might not be able to speak, but we need someone there.

So I kept sharing. My daily life, my thoughts, my small joys. I sent texts, then voice notes. Photos, then short videos. Over time, it felt like we were old friends. So much so that the first time we spoke on the phone and I discovered she was a man, the shock nearly triggered a relapse.

I Im sorry, I stammered, clutching the phone. Did I wake you?

No, Sebastian said. Its nine p.m. here.

He spoke so fluently now. This was only our second phone call. After learning he was a man, I had deliberately kept my distance. The last time we'd spoken was nearly a month ago.

It was pure coincidence. The moment Wyatt handed me the divorce papers, a message from Sebastian had popped up, asking what I was doing. My mind was a blank canvas, wiped clean by the words divorce papers.

I replied with a single word: Divorce.

After signing, I hid in the hallway outside Wyatts office, my body wracked with tremors.

Sebastian, I think I think Im about to lose my home.

No father, no mother, no brother, not even my sweet little dog. And now, no Wyatt. What was I going to do?

I never expected his reply.

Then just marry me. Can't you?

The mocking laughter from inside the office grew louder.

Get real. Josephine wouldn't know how to function without Wyatt. Shed never actually go through with it.

Yeah, if she actually had to get a divorce, shed probably flood City Hall with her tears!

Is that so? Wyatts voice was a low sneer. He tossed his lighter onto the coffee table. She could be sobbing her eyes out, and she'd still be my dog. If I tell her to go east, shell crawl there on her hands and knees.

I stared through the crack in the door at the man who had become a stranger.

Yes.

6

Sebastian sent me a checklist. Things to do within the month.

Applying for a visa and finding a lawyer were on it, of course. But it also included a surprisingly long list of must-try restaurants.

The Chinese food abroad is terrible.

Seriously.

I gratefully accepted his advice, eating my way through his list, one restaurant at a time. Being alone wasnt as hard as Id imagined. My days were filled with food, shopping, and packing.

The day I moved out of our marital home, Wyatt sent me a text.

Not even a phone call? Dont you miss me?

Hed taken Sadie on a trip. To show the girl the world, hed said.

Naughty, he sent next. Then, a photo. This place is nice. Maybe Ill bring you here for our anniversary?

I wanted to block him, just like Id blocked Sadie. But I still had to go back to City Hall with him to finalize the divorce, so I held back.

Over the next two weeks, I sold off my smaller pieces of jewelry and handbags. I went to the doctor for a check-up and confirmed I wasnt pregnant. Finally, I gathered all the financial assets Wyatt had entrusted to my care over the years.

The night before our appointment at City Hall, Wyatt came back. He called me.

Josie, you moved out?

7

He was used to my silence on the phone and just chuckled to himself.

Josie, youre so adorable. I told you it was just an act. His voice was bright, clearly in a good mood. Tell you what. Lets take this act all the way. How about you come with me to City Hall tomorrow and we get the final papers?

I held the phone tightly.

Josie, dont worry, its just

Okay, I said.

Woooooah!

A wave of whoops and hollers erupted from his side of the call.

I hung up and texted him the time.

The next day, I was up early. Wyatt, however, was late. A faint, but deliberate, bite mark was visible on his lip, no doubt a parting gift from Sadie. He pretended not to notice. I did the same.

The process was even quicker than the first time. In and out in five minutes.

Josie, I have a surprise for you tomorrow, Wyatt said, gently nudging my leg with his foot.

I tucked the divorce decree into my purse. Wyatt, are you free tonight? I looked at him directly. There are some things I need to talk to you about.

Wyatt froze. Ever since we were married, I had only ever called him honey.

A moment later, his charming eyes curved into a smile as he tapped the red document in his hand.

Sure.