Me and Desmond, Mother and Father, Mr and Mrs Corte, we all are standing in the main hall of My House. Everyone's attention is towards me. I hugged my sides tightly. A silent stream of tears flowed from my eyes. I want to speak but my voice is stuck in my throat. Saying that is too much for me. I inhaled deeply and let out a broken voice,
"I can't live with Desmond.."
My answer shocked everyone- especially Desmond. Desmond's lips began to tremble. He began to let out heavy pants as he felt shocked and broken. Desmond was consumed by anguish. I motioned Father to give me the divorce papers which have my signature on them already. I wiped my tears and gulped to calm myself. I took a deep breath and looked at an utterly broken Desmond, filled with despair which extended to no boundaries.
"You promised, Desmond. Sign them." I said in a cold voice. Desmond gave me a begging look as I looked away. Please don't give me that look. It's all your fault, only if you hadn't hurt me that much.
"Please Ester, Don't do this to me. I beg you. I can't live without you.." Desmond began to cry. I close my eyes so as not to cry. I began to let out rapid breaths to calm myself.
"Sign them." I looked at Desmond again. I said in a cold tone but the tears in my eyes are visible.
"I gave you a month to remove those fears you embed. You couldn't. Now, sign them." Desmond wiped his tears and looked down utterly defeated.
"If that's what you want..." Desmond said in a low tone.
His shaky hands signed the papers. He closed his eyes as a tear fell on the papers. When he signed them I gave papers to my father.
"Submit them," I said as I turned to leave.
"Ester.," Desmond called me. He looked so broken. A stage of too much pain, which turns you void. I felt my heart ache just by looking at him like that. I looked at him as he asked,
"Can I ask for one last favor?"
"What?" My lips dried as I felt shattered, My voice came out like a hoarse whisper. Desmond came closer and whispered in my ear. I nodded and took his hand. I let him into my room. I closed the door behind me and looked at Desmond.
"Not like that!" Desmond said with a frown.
"Then?" I asked him.
"Do you remember that black knee-length lace dress I never let you wear?" he said as I nodded.
"Please wear that and get ready. I'll wait outside." He was about to walk out but I stopped him.
"On our anniversary... I bought you a gift... Take it.." I said. I swallow continuously so as not to cry. He nodded and stood there. I went to my nightstand and took out his gift. Something I always wanted to give him.
"Open it.." I said as I gave him the gift. He opened it. It's a flute. He smiled a little.
"It's precious." That's all he said. And these words meant too much. Too much. The pain behind those words is pricking me like a needle.
"I want you to play it for me that day... I thought about a lot of commands... anyways" I said sadly as tears rolled onto my cheek. Desmond looked down in shame.
"I can play it now.." I smiled and held his hands.
"Don't... It'll break me.." I spoke in a broken voice. I am on the verge of crying. I smiled and looked down.
He looked at me as silence fell upon us. That's a crushing silence that speaks louder than any word. It's like a scream filled with agony. A state of misery is filling both of us. Both of our minds are in havoc. Desmond gulped and stopped himself from crying and said,
"I have a gift for you too... I kept it with me... Never got a chance to give it to you." He gave me a small box. I opened it and found a pendant. It's a heart-shaped pendant with the letter 'D' carved on it. I smiled and said,
"I thought it would be a ring."
"You were wearing one back then." He said as It hit both of us like an arrow. I felt my heart being stabbed by his words.
"It's a treasure," I said as I gave him the pendant and motioned him to put it on. He took it as I turned around. He put my hair aside and put it on. I close my eyes. I shivered when I felt his lips on my neck. He kissed my neck with so much love. The delicacy of the kiss is a source of divinity. A feeling of salvation and heavenly calmness surged through me under his touch.
The pendant is worth more than my own life. It's too precious for me. A priceless gem for me.
I bit my tongue to not to cry but, a tear rolled onto my cheek. Desmond pulled away and walked out.
I changed into that black dress and readied myself. I wiped the tears and called Desmond. He walked in and smiled at me.
"It looks so beautiful on you." He said, I smiled back and lowered my gaze. Desmond took out his phone as I stood beside the window.
"Smile, Ester." I smiled a little as he took a picture of me. Desmond smiled sadly at the picture and left before saying,
"Farewell Ester..."
I went to the door and locked it. My legs lost their strength, I felt numb.
My lips began to quiver as I swallowed hard. I closed my eyes and fell onto my knees and began to cry out loud. I couldn't hold myself anymore. I cried so loudly. I let out the screams of agony from the bottom of my lungs. I screamed out loud. I pulled my hair harshly and crawled into a corner. I felt like my world was no more. All the things around me crashed. I am in a bottomless pit of massive anguish. My heart ached from the pain. I am losing myself in the devastation. I felt broken. A feeling of unbearable suffering surged to my very core. I stayed like this and cried my heart out.
We are not meant to be together... Not in this life...
***
It's been a week, I am lying on the bed staring at the pendant he gave me. A tear rolled onto my cheek as I felt completely torn. Desmond not only left my life; he took away my will with him too. Father knocked and came in,
"Ester... Dear.." Father began to say as I continued to stare at the pendant. Father sat beside me and put his hand over my head.
"Please Sweetie, Go out... You might feel better.." Father said, running his hands in my hair.
"Don't want to," I said as I remained still. I don't feel anything. I felt so void and empty. I felt weary. My mind is in calm chaos.
"Please Dear, come to the party." Father tried to convince me. I close my eyes.
"Wait for me downstairs.." I said in a barely audible tone. Father kissed my head and left. A tear rolled onto my cheek as I sat up. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I am still wearing that black dress. I exhaled and took a warm shower. I changed into a white off-shoulder top with a black frock and tied my hairs in a messy bun. I wore Desmond's pendant and went to my father. Mother kissed my forehead as I went to the party with father instead of mother.
Father smiled as we entered. But, my void eyes didn't even lift themselves. I ignored everyone and sat in a corner. I blinked as I wanted to scream to ease my distress. My eyes are looking at the ground as I heard someone's voice,
"Looks like your marriage didn't work out, just like your high school life.." I turned to see Emily, smirking at me.
"Just like your every relationship," I said in an emotionless tone. Emily smile faded as she glared at me,
"Looks like you got a tongue" She hissed as I looked at the ground again,
"You dropped something, Emily."
"What?" She asked.
"Your Self Respect. It's dropping each second. Get out of my sight." I said in my void tone. She was about to say something but someone interrupted,
"Looks like you have forgotten what I did to you last time." My heart skipped a beat as I looked up and saw Desmond glaring at Emily. Emily got so scared looking at Desmond and left. Desmond looked at me. My body began to tremble. I gulped as tears brimmed in my eyes.
"Glad that you are still wearing it." I stared in his gray pool of sadness, Desmond was smiling at me. My quivering lip tried to say something but I knew if I opened my mouth the only thing that would leave my lips would be a sob. Desmond wiped my tears with his thumb and said,
"Don't cry that much. Red and puffy eyes don't suit you." He said as he left. I looked down and didn't let tears fall.
What about your eyes? They are also red and puffy...
My every tranquil broke. I couldn't take it anymore. I quickly went to father,
"Father, Can we please go home?" I asked in a low tone.
"What happened, Ester?" Father asked concern.
"Please.." I whispered. Father nodded as we went home.
I went to my room and locked the door. I hugged the teddy Desmond won for me. I buried my face in it and began to cry out.
Life played a cruel game with me. Pushing me into the pool of uncertainties of whether I am right about leaving the love of my life or not...