“What happened to ‘for better or worse’?” Joel threw the words at her, hurt and accusation clear on his face. Rebecca looked away, her heart was pounding so hard she could feel her pulse in her face. She was finally doing it; she felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff about to jump, the anticipation of weightlessness surged through her and butterflies ricocheted in her stomach. Six long years of the drinking, and the cold shoulders, and the complete lack of partnership, she was done with it all.

“I will always love you, but you have taught me that love isn’t enough to make a relationship work. When I said those vows, I thought that you were going to be my partner, instead you’re just here, existing, going through the motions. This can’t be a surprise to you. I’ve told you my concerns and my needs and you seem to not hear me. We have been little more than roommates for years and I need more than that; we both deserve more than that.”

Monica glanced back at Joel. His lips had drawn themselves into a thin line, a muscle in his clenched jaw twitched.

“Listen, I’m not saying these things to hurt you. It’s obvious you aren’t happy either. I’ve packed a bag, I’m going to stay at my mom’s. I’ll be in touch later when I begin to file paperwork.”

Later, as Monica hit her blinker, turning out of a neighborhood she would never live in again, she felt lighter than she had in years.