Over the stadium, the sun was shining brightly in the afternoon, giving a pleasant warmth over the multitude of people sitting in folding chairs. The atmosphere was filled with the loud hum of talk, which was broken up by bursts of applause as graduates dressed in blue gowns made their way across the platform one by one. During the time that we were waiting for our daughter to be named, I sat with my husband, Martin, on my right, and our closest friends on my left.
This was supposed to be one of those days that only comes around once in a lifetime. For weeks, I had been planning for it, which included assisting Ava in selecting a white dress to wear underneath the gown, purchasing flowers, and organizing dinner reservations for a little party that would take place after the event. When I thought about it, I anticipated that we would take pictures of our family, laugh over memories from her school years, and possibly even shed a few tears of joy.
Instead, I sensed a tightness and unease in my gut, but I was unable to pinpoint the reason for this sensation. I attributed Martin’s recent lack of distance to the stress that he was experiencing at work. He would leave early and arrive home late, always with an explanation about “last-minute meetings” or “urgent projects.” He had been doing this for quite some time.
There was a loud boom of the principal’s voice coming from the microphone. Furthermore, Ava Martin is graduating with honors at this time. This was the moment I had been anticipating for a very long time.
As Ava made her way across the stage, she smiled with the self-assurance that is characteristic of her, and her brown hair sparkled in the sunlight. Because I was clapping so hard, my hands hurt, and my cheeks hurt because I was smiling so much. We were in the crowd when she saw us and waved, and I returned her gesture.
On the other hand, while I was concentrating on her, Martin stood at the podium and leaned near the microphone. What’s going on? Why was he standing at the podium?
When I glanced around, I was perplexed to see him standing up. It was not at all expected of him to deliver any kind of speech. Martin began by saying, “I have something to say,” and his voice was strong enough to silence the other people who were talking around him.
My heart skipped a beat. When it came to surprises, this was not the spot. In continuation, he stated, “I have made the decision to begin a new life without you, Lydia.”
It was as if I had been smacked in the face by the words.
There was a crackling sound coming from the speakers, and at first I thought I had misheard him. When I looked into his eyes, I saw a glance that was icy and certain. But without me.
No sound could be heard for a brief period of time. Suddenly, the clapping ceased. We heard a faint gasp coming from the direction of the row behind us.
Even Ava, who was almost at her seat, stopped in the middle of her step. As I struggled to comprehend what had just taken place in front of a large number of people, I took a deep breath and swallowed. Martin had additional work to do.
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