From Sweethearts to Enemies

I lay on the hospital bed as sharp pangs of emptiness twisted through my lower belly. The nurse had just changed my dressing and softly reminded me to rest well and not catch a cold. I nodded, watching her close the ward door behind her. Not two minutes later, the ward door swung open again. Jerry Murphy walked ahead, the cold from outside still clinging to his dark suit. Two buttons at the collar were undone, giving off a careless arrogance. Behind him followed a girl in a loose beige dress, her long hair falling over her shoulders, her hands gently cradling her belly. I didn't need to guess—that was Vanessa Black. He'd been hiding her for half a year, and I'd already heard the rumors. Jerry tossed his coat casually over the back of the chair by the bed, his tone casual: "Tracy, Vanessa's pregnant with my child for a long time. She'll be living here from now on, so I suggest you start getting used to it." I stared into his eyes—the same eyes I'd been looking into for ten years, from youth to maturity, but now they held nothing but a bone-deep estrangement. Ten years ago, under the streetlamp on the university playground, he held my hand and promised he'd be good to me for life. In those ten years, I gave up my beloved illustration work for him, ran the household, and lay on the operating table three times, losing our children. Now, I've just come off the operating table, and he's openly brought home the pregnant other woman, forcing me to face the truth. "Let's get a divorce." I heard my own voice, calm as if I were talking about the weather. Jerry froze for a moment, like he didn't expect me to say that, then let out a low laugh, dripping with obvious mockery. "Tracy, stop it. If you leave me, where else would you go? All these years, you've done nothing but orbit around me." Vanessa laughed too, gently rubbing her belly as she stepped forward a couple of paces. "Tracy, Jerry's only thinking about the baby. Don't be so petty. My being with Jerry won't stop him from taking good care of you." "Petty?" I finally looked at her, voice soft, "You stole my husband, got pregnant, and you still have the nerve to call me petty?" Vanessa's face went pale. She hid behind Jerry and said, hurt, "Jerry, look how Tracy's talking to me..." Jerry frowned immediately. "Tracy, don't push your luck. Vanessa's pregnant—don't scare her." I didn't look at them anymore, pulled back the quilt, and slid down beside the bed. The nurse came in for her rounds and, seeing this, hurried over to stop me. "Miss Fey, you just had surgery—you can't get out of bed, you'll catch a cold!" I shook my head, my voice steady. "I'm fine. I want to go home." Jerry sneered, "Going home? The home is Vanessa's now. What are you going back for?" I ignored him and slowly stood up, leaning against the wall. The nurse tried to help me, but I gently refused. By the time I took a taxi home, several of Vanessa's suitcases were already piled up in the living room, with a few servants busy cleaning up. My art supplies and books were carelessly tossed on the sofa, and a few art books were bent out of shape, like a claim of ownership. Vanessa sat on the sofa, directing the servants, "Throw them away. They're just taking up space." I hurried over, clutching my things tightly. "These are mine. Don't touch them." Vanessa jumped, glancing at Jerry who had just come in. "Jerry, look at her..." Jerry said nothing. He leaned against the doorframe, watching me walk into the bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and folded my clothes, packing them one by one into the suitcase. That blue dress I wore on our first date had started to pill at the edges. I folded it carefully and placed it inside. Jerry followed me in, his voice sharp with threat: "Enough of this drama. Just stop. I don't have time to waste with you. If you really want a divorce, don't even think about getting a penny from me." I kept moving my hands without stopping, replying coldly, "I don't want anything, just a divorce." "You think you can walk away that easily?" He reached out to grab my suitcase. "I supported you all these years, and now you just want to leave?" I stepped aside to dodge him, pulling the suitcase closer. "I didn't spend much of your money; the startup funds for your company came from my parents." His expression instantly darkened, but he didn't say another word. After finishing packing, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. Jerry reached out to stop me again, his voice barely concealing a flicker of panic: "Tracy, are you really going? Are you sure you won't regret this?" I looked up at him, my eyes cold as ice: "Ten years. I've had enough." I pushed his hand away without looking back. Stepping out of the apartment gate, the cold wind hit my face. I shivered but felt strangely light. A neighbor passed by on the street, casting curious looks my way. I pretended not to notice. I pulled out my phone, found the number I hadn't called in a long time, and dialed. "Bonnie, are you in J City right now? I want to go to your place." Bonnie Miller's voice came through, surprised and urgent: "Tracy? What's wrong? You don't sound like yourself. Has Jerry been bothering you again?" "No," I sniffled, "I want to live somewhere else. Is that okay for you?" "Of course! Super convenient!" Bonnie said right away. "Where are you? I'll come pick you up, or if you buy your ticket, just tell me—I'll wait for you at the station." "I'll manage to get there on my own," I said softly. "Thanks, Bonnie." "Don't be so formal," Bonnie's voice was warm. "Come over—I'll keep you company." After I hung up, I grabbed my suitcase and headed to the bus stop. The streetlamp stretched my shadow long across the cold ground. I know that from this moment on, the ten years between Jerry and me are completely over. I'm going to start a new life for myself, and I won't ever wrong myself for anyone again.