Whenever she recalled that he used to look at her with disdain, disgust, and contempt, it was hard for her to muster any confidence in him.
She imagined a time when she grew old and withered, her hair grey and her face wrinkled. She bet Leopold would find her disgusting and kick her to the curb, chasing after some young and vibrant thing.
"Let's be honest. If not for that mix-up of artificial insemination, I would've picked Arnold in a heartbeat between you two. He's been so much more reliable than you."
A flush of anger invaded Leopold's gaze. "And how could you see him as more reliable than me?"
He doubted her perception of seeing people.
Aurelia's eyes drifted to the distant horizon, where the sea met the sky, her voice as if carried by the waves, ethereal and lonely.
"In my darkest and most painful days, Arnold was there. He didn't back off when I couldn't walk. Instead, Arnold cared for me and cheered me up. Adversity reveals true friendship, and he was truly good to me. For that, I'm eternally grateful."
She paused, a wistful sadness creeping onto her face, "And you? When I was most vulnerable and most in need, you handed me the divorce papers, ready to cut me loose. Maybe you had your reasons, but you never once considered how I'd feel or whether I could handle it. In your eyes, I was like an Iron Woman, so indestructible, feelingless, and painless. But to be your wife, I'd need a heart of steel, but I don't have one. My heart's flesh and blood and it bleeds and scars easily. That's why I've decided I can't be your wife anymore. Being alone seems just fine."
Inside Leopold, a nerve twitched violently. Each word she spoke landed like a muffled blow to his chest. Fear crept in, leaving him restless and uneasy.
Though she was close enough to touch, her heart seemed to drift further and further away as if it might vanish into thin air, beyond his reach forever.
"You've never balanced the scales for me. You’ve always tipped in Arnold's favor. No matter what I do, I'll never measure up in your eyes."
His good mood had evaporated, leaving the sunshine, the blue sky, and the sea all shrouded in gloom.
She smiled indifferently. "Whatever you think doesn't matter to me."
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