However, everything changed today.Since it was my day off, I chose to prepare Tom’s breakfast. Tom entered the kitchen as I was cooking pancakes; he was already agitated. “Good morning, Tom. I tried to seem upbeat as I said, “breakfast is almost ready.” Sleekly, he said, “Morning,” hardly meeting my gaze. That all began when we sat down to eat. Really nothing major. The fact that I had used up all of the blueberries annoyed him.Tom said, “You know I like blueberries, Lisa,” in a slightly harsh way. “Yeah, you could have told me we were leaving,” I said, attempting to remain composed. As has been the case lately, the dispute got very heated very quickly. Silently, Tom completed his breakfast, picked up his briefcase, and made his way to the door. “I’ll see you later,” he said coldly. I said, “Yeah, later,” with annoyance and frustration.I sat at the table and stared at the half-eaten pancakes after Tom left. A mixture of despair and rage filled me. I was getting tired of our arguments because they were happening more often. In an attempt to avoid squandering the day in misery, I gave my closest friend May a call. “Hello, May. Do you want to go swimming today? I tried to seem cheerful as I said, “I need a diversion. “Of course, Lisa! With her typical zeal, she said, “Let’s meet at my place in an hour. I dressed and took a car to May’s. It was a beautiful day, and I thought spending the day at the pool would cheer me up. Families and groups of friends were enjoying the bright day at the pool, which was crowded. May and I situated ourselves close to the water’s edge. After placing our pizza order, we began talking about everything and nothing. “It’s exactly what I needed,” I remarked, at last beginning to unwind. “Me too. “There’s nothing like a pool day to lift your spirits,” May retorted, her smile contagious.I observed him chuckling over some old memory from high school. Tom was sitting on a sunbed about twenty meters away. He wasn’t alone, though. With him was a young, blond woman, her hand resting on his. “May, take a look at that,” I said, stuttering as I identified them. < “Oh Lisa, I’m so sorry. Is that correct? May’s speech faltered. Yes. Tom is that. And that blonde, who is she? I questioned, my temper exploding. With his hand on hers, Tom appeared incredibly at ease and carefree, as if they were in the perfect world. I was angry and betrayed at the same time. “This is unbelievable. I got up and said, “I have to do something. “Hold on, Lisa. May grabbed my arm and said, “Think this through.”But I was too stunned to think. My initial reaction as I saw everything happen was to walk over and face Tom. My hands trembled with rage, and my heart hammered in my chest. I started to move forward, but a burly, young man beat me to it. He moved purposefully and had a 22-year-old appearance. “Hi! How on earth do you think you’re doing this? Gripping Tom by the collar and forcing him to the sunbed, the young man shrieked. With a yell, the blonde leaped back. Tom’s expression went white. He stammered, “I-I can explain!” “What exactly should I explain? that my girlfriend is being played about by you?” The man clenched his teeth and spat. Tom’s terrified eyes grew wider. “Please, don’t cause a commotion. I’ll give you money. What is your desired amount? With a quivering voice, he begged. The young man appeared repulsed. “You think you can buy your way out of this?” He lifted a fist, prepared to hit.I stood there with a mixture of amusement and rage building inside of me. I took out my phone and began recording. This was too wonderful to pass up. Tom whimpered in his voice. “Don’t hit me, please. I apologize.” The young man’s face changed from one of rage to sympathy. He shoved Tom away and let go. “You’re not worth it.” Tom looked pitiful as he sagged back onto the sunbed. A peculiar satisfaction filled me as I stopped shooting and approached. “Lisa, it’s not what it looks like,” Tom said with a trembling voice. “Oh really? “So you weren’t simply making out with a different woman?” I yelled and raised my phone. “I’ve got it all on video.” His expression dimmed. “Please, Lisa. Let’s discuss this. There’s nothing to discuss. We’re through. I said in a hard, icy voice, “I’m divorcing you. But the tale did not stop there. There was silence on the way home. Tom continued to glance at me, but I shook my head. My decision had already been made. There was no turning back now. I tried to take in everything that had happened by gazing out the window. It felt unreal, the confrontation, the treachery, the public humiliation. Tom finally broke the stillness at home. “I apologize, Lisa. He continued, almost desperate in his tone, “I swear it won’t happen again. He seemed like he would cry, and his eyes were crimson.I stood my ground, crossing my arms. “I don’t give a damn. Tom, you turned on me. You’ve shattered whatever remaining trust between us.” “Lisa, please. He insisted, moving in closer, “We can work this out,” but I pulled away. There seemed to be an unbridgeable chasm between us. “Tom, no. I’m through. There’s no way I could be pardoned,” I shot back, my determination unshakable. My voice began to shake with the hurt and rage that was rising within of me. Tom’s despair soon gave way to rage. “Are you serious? His angry face twisted as he yelled, “This is all your fault!” “You started acting really serious and aloof. I did this because of you!” I looked at him, astonished. “You think I’m to blame for your adultery? Amazing.” Indeed! You’ve changed since I married you. His voice rose as he claimed, “You drove me away.” “Lisa, you made me feel unwelcome. “What were your expectations?” I was hearing things that I couldn’t believe. Standing before me, accusing me of being the one who had betrayed him, was the man who had once sworn to love and cherish me. That was the last straw. Taking out my phone, I clicked on the video. I sent it to his boss with a few taps. I typed, “Well, let’s see how your boss feels about his daughter being in this video,” and sent the message.Tom’s horrified gaze expanded. “No, Lisa! He yelled, “You can’t do that!” and reached for my phone, but it was already too late. The harm had already occurred. The consequences were felt right away. Tom was let go by the following day. His supervisor was incensed by the controversy surrounding his daughter. Tom looked crushed and shattered when he got home. He made another attempt to convince me, but I was firm.Tom’s life collapsed, but I experienced an odd feeling of freedom. I prepared to move on and start over by filing for divorce. It was a long time since I felt powerful and self-sufficient. I came to the realization that I had been shouldering our problematic marriage by myself for far too long.Our marriage had been destroyed by Tom’s betrayal, but it had also freed me. I could move on from his lies and treachery now that I was free. I was excited to rediscover who I was and to pursue happiness according to my own standards. I felt hopeful for the first time in a long time, even if the future was uncertain.
