Chapter 6
THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER
After a sleepless night in which neither of them could stop mulling over what they were about to do, Victoria and Elena sat facing each other, separated by a massive, modern walnut table.
You could feel the tension in the air, and the clattering of tree branches outside echoed, adding that perfect touch of melancholy and sadness to the scene.
Only they knew how hard that moment was, what would be broken once they signed the divorce papers, and everything that would change in their lives.
Their lawyers remained silent, seated to their right, respectively, waiting for the notary to read the separation papers after months in which their relationship had changed beyond recognition.
Elena looked at Victoria, praying that she would look up and change her mind, but God could do nothing now; the fights, the lack of communication, the recriminations, the long nights spent crying…
Victoria’s work had always come before her, and though she knew it, she held onto the hope that love would find its moment to be reborn.
Victoria, with her chocolate-colored hair styled in a pretty French bun and her impassive face, looked like a marble statue in contrast to Elena’s frail figure, whose reddened eyes revealed the emotional torment she was suffering.
Though that didn’t mean she wasn’t suffering; she was just putting on a tough front so as not to break down and show her insecurity in the face of a decision she herself had made in desperation.
She felt exhausted, and she couldn’t drag the woman she loved down with her.
“Well, let’s begin…” The notary, a bit younger than they were, with a serious demeanor and a compassionate expression, called everyone’s attention and opened the folder containing the relevant papers.
“You are here to formalize your legal separation, and before we begin, I want to know if you are sure about this.”
The words echoed through the room, causing the two of them to finally look each other in the eyes for a couple of seconds. Elena shook her head a couple of times, inviting Victoria to do the same, but, contrary to expectations, Victoria looked at the man and replied:
“As far as I’m concerned, yes.” Despite her appearance, she couldn’t believe she was about to do this, but she knew it was the solution to avoid further pain and prevent the love they had left from being consumed by hatred and resentment.
“Are we really going to do this?” Elena asked, her voice breaking, her vulnerability evident in every word. “Can’t we go home and think it over?” she added, her voice trembling, clinging to the hope of one last reconciliation.
Victoria, seeing her like this, closed her eyes and fought against the wave of emotions threatening to break down the armor she was hiding behind.
Seeing her like this—so sad, hurt, and broken—was exactly what had led her to do this; she couldn’t let their story end up turning into a living hell; she would never forgive herself for that.
“You know this is best for both of us…” she replied, her voice breaking, feeling her heart tremble with every word she spoke.
“Then that’s settled…” The lawyers intervened at that moment and cut off the conversation as they explained the terms of the agreement they had reached after several weeks, while both women’s minds filled with the memories they shared, the happy moments they had experienced.
“I remind you that once the documents are signed, you will be officially divorced,” the notary continued. “No legal bond will bind you anymore, and you will be able to rebuild your lives and move forward separately.”
Neither of them could imagine a future in which they weren’t together; however, when the time came to sign, they did so without speaking, letting the sound of the pen scratching across the paper mark the end of a wonderful time and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
“Well, everything is ready. You’ll receive official notification in a matter of days,” said the notary after gathering the papers and putting them back in the folder. He then shook hands with everyone present and left.
They stood up, looking at each other one last time.
They knew their marriage was over, but the love they felt would always bind them together; they were still in love, and though time was a faithful friend to broken hearts, they knew nothing could bury their feelings.
With faltering steps, they left the notary’s office and faced the outside world, where the cold wind enveloped them, cradling their hearts; protecting them, caring for them, and accompanying them as they decided to walk away and look toward an uncertain future bathed in gray, yet full of possibilities.