When she finished, Kaori searched again in her back and took a slim black folder. She took the album and the pictures aside and put the folder on the table before Katsuhiro.

-What is this now?- asked Katsuhiro annoyed.

-A divorce petition- answered Kaori firmly.

Silence. Maybe the tensest silence there ever was at that house. Katsuhiro looked at the folder, his eyes shaking nervously, even his hands shook a little, something that Kaori had never seen before on her husband.

-What do you mean… divorce?- asked Katsuhiro almost breathless, not believing what he just heard.

-I want to divorce, Katsuhiro- insisted Kaori. -I want… to end this very long lie. I want to live my own life and I can’t do that if I remain in this town and keep married to you. It’s time that each one follow their own path, or at least I want to build my own path.

Katsuhiro processed those words in his head slowly, and Kaori noticed how angrier he got the more he understood. He finally bursted.

-How do you dare?- asked Katsuhiro raising his voice. -After everything I’ve done for you, after all these years, you dare to leave me? You lived like a queen thanks to me, and that’s how you pay me?

Kaori had already mentalized herself for that reaction, but she somehow didn’t see it necessary: she actually didn’t feel anything, nor fear neither pleasure. As much as her husband shouted, his words didn’t make any sense.

-”Like a queen”?- asked Kaori with irony. -Since we dated for the first time, all I’ve done is follow you around. You made all decisions. I didn’t really wish for anything at all, but you didn’t even care of asking me. Where we went, who we met… you decided it all. This house? We barely saw two and you were obsessed on buying this one, even though I pointed out some rooms were too small, and just because I informed myself in that regard to make you happy. And the car? You appeared at the door one day with it. You didn’t even ask me for the color. You never had any detail or gesture towards me: I forced myself to remember your birthdays and anniversaries and made you presents, but you always had an excuse for forgetting. I’ll say more: you didn’t even propose to me. One day you just said “I think we should marry. I’m asking your hand to your parents”.

-That was the way back then!- exclaimed Katsuhiro angrily.

-That was done AFTER proposing to your partner- answered Kaori calmly. -You never cared about my wishes, whether I had them or not. You assumed I would marry you no matter what and only cared about my parents saying yes. In this marriage, the one who benefited the most was you, while I just limited myself to linger. But now, I want more than that.

Katsuhiro breathed was heavy and sweated a lot. Suddenly, he tried faking a nervous smile.

-Come one, there’s no need to get this far!- said Katsuhiro nervously. -Things may have been a bit weird lately, but I’m sure there’s a solution. Both of us need to yield a little and worked hard in fixing this marriage.

Kaori looked at him with curiosity: even begging, he tried to avoid the issue and blame others for the situation.

-Now you want to fix it? I’ve been sleeping on my own room for two years, and all this time, you didn’t even bother to knock on my door. You knew I was angry and why, I told you so many times, but you never accepted responsibility for your mistakes. Regarding me… I didn’t want to fix anything. Rather, is there anything to fix in a non-existing, fake marriage in which there was never any love? Our problems didn’t begin with our daughter’s incident: our relationship has been a lie from the moment you asked me to date you, and I want to end this lie now.

Katsuhiro slammed the table with force while gasping angrily.

-That kid… It was that brat, right?- asked Katsuhiro angrily. -She convinced you!

-That “brat” is our daughter, never forget it- answered Kaori with a light angry tone. -And no, nobody convinced me. Actually, she found out just a couple of weeks ago. And you know what? She was happy for me! That happens when you decide not to bond with your own daughter: don’t expect her to support you. This decision is mine, only mine, meditated for so many months.

-And what are you supposed to do?- kept asking Katsuhiro angrily. -You can’t fend for yourself! What are you going to do?

Kaori looked at Katsuhiro with disbelief.

-I can stand on my own two feet, thank you- answered Kaori. -You always tried to look down on me, but the only one who can’t live by himself is you. Regarding me, I’m moving to Tokyo by the end of the month to be close to Natsume. I have arranged an apartment and did some interviews for part-time jobs at some stores and restaurants. I may need two jobs, it may be hard, but I’d rather do that than staying here.

Katsuhiro sat down with all his force and kept looking at the table. He didn’t dare to look at his wife.

-Is there… another man?- murmured Katsuhiro.

-Excuse me?- asked Kaori.

-You heard me! There’s another man, right? That’s why you’ve been travelling so much- exclaimed Katsuhiro.

-No, actually there is a woman- answered Kaori with honesty.

-This is no time for joking? That doesn’t exist!- exclaimed Katsuhiro angrily. -You are obviously going with another man!

Kaori felt a weird mix of satisfaction and anger: she told him she had a girlfriend, so he couldn’t reproach not telling him, but on the other hand, she was annoyed that he didn’t believe she was lesbian.

-Do you really believe I haven’t learned my lesson after all these years with you? The only truth is that I’m not asking for divorce because there is or there will be another man in the future- answered Kaori. -I just want to divorce simply because I never loved you and will never do. The only thing awaiting me out there when I leave is… my future, my life and my happiness. Nothing else.

-And you think I’m letting you go away like this? That you take everything for me so you can do whatever you want and drive me into debt? I’m not signing this!- exclaimed Katsuhiro angrily.

At that moment, Kaori raised her hand to stop Katsuhiro’s endless speech. Somehow, it worked.

-Before you say anything else, if you are half as smart as you brag about, if you really are that important manager in that company of yours, then you’ll read this petition right now. It will benefit you more than you believe- explained Kaori.

Katsuhiro wanted to go on with his complaints and shouts, but something stopped him: Kaori’s eyes. By looking at them, he knew how serious she was. Was it really that beneficial? Gnarling, he opened the folder and began reading the document. As he did, his angry face disappeared and turned into one of incredulity. He looked up again to see his wife.

This… can’t be… Is this real?- asked Katsuhiro nervously.

Kaori giggle a bit.

-It’s so real that even my own lawyer questioned my sanity- answered Kaori. -He just couldn’t believe I’m willing to do this.

-But according to this, you… give up on everything- murmured Katsuhiro.

Silence once again as Kaori just nodded lightly.

-That’s right. The house, the car, the joint bank account… I don’t want anything from you, not even child support- asked Kaori. -Now you can’t say I’m divorcing to take your money, right? Anyway, I really don’t want anything at all. Also, I don’t like the word “giving up” because, in some way, I never felt any of these things were actually mine. The only thing I own is my own clothing, and only that I will take with me. You can keep everything else.

As Kaori spoke, Katsuhiro checked the pages from the document again and again, but he was so nervous that didn’t see one important thing, so his wife called his attention.

-There is just one condition- added Kaori. -And I wouldn’t even call it condition, but more of a warranty. The only thing I ask is that, up until the end of the month, when both Natsume and me leave, that we can still live in this house. You can’t kick us out earlier. During this month, I’ll keep doing chores as usual. A small sacrifice for me, although you should start learning on your own. If you want, nobody in town will know anything about this until we leave and you can tell them any excuse or lie you want. I don’t even care what people in this town think about me anymore. When the time comes, I will leave and you won’t see me ever again. Natsume can do whatever she wants, but if I were you, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

The man couldn’t say a word as he kept looking at the petition. After a while, he could ask:

-What if I don’t sign this? What will you do.

-Whether you sign or not, my plans won’t change: I’m still leaving- explained Kaori. -If you try to kick me out earlier, I will go to the police. And if you later decide to divorce me and take any compensation, well, let’s check: 47 years old, housewife most of my life, very little work experience, not stable income nor higher degrees. All that, adding that everybody knows about the situation we lived with Natsume and they know you are responsible for that and the fact that I have already showed you this deal that benefits you in every possible way… I guess the judge will wonder why you didn’t sign this in the first place. Most likely you will end up giving me something, even though I insist I don’t want anything from you. The truth is that this is the best deal you or any other person in this situation could imagine.

Kaori knew very well she couldn’t appeal to Katsuhiro’s emotional side (she even doubted he had one), but she could appeal to his executive side. As if looking into his head, she could see her husband calculating the pros and cons, but she didn’t expect a quick answer.

-I understand this is sudden and you may need some time, although I’d like an answer in the coming days…

Kaori couldn’t finished her sentence. Katsuhiro stood up and when into a drawer, from which he took a hanko seal, necessary for signing documents, and a pen. He sat down again and signed and stamped the seal in every single page, doing it with rudeness and anxiety. When he finished, he closed the folder and threw it in front of his now ex-wife.

-There you go! Satisfied now?- asked Katsuhiro angrily.

Kaori couldn’t believe what she just saw. Slowly, she opened the folder and looked at the document. Her now ex-husband’s signature and seal really appeared in all pages next to hers. She checked those papers surprised.

-But you can be sure you are making the biggest mistake of your life!- exclaimed Katsuhiro. -You’ll see now how hard the outside world is! And when you fail, don’t even dare to come back crawling because I… don’t…

Katsuhiro couldn’t even finish his words as the image he saw left him speechless. Kaori cried with a big smile in her face while hugging the folder. Deep inside, the woman felt only happiness. She couldn’t mutter any word, but her tears said everything. The man lowered his head and murmured…

-Well, you really can smile then…

After those words, he left the house slamming the door, but Kaori didn’t care. In her head, she had prepared herself for any possible problems her husband could make and accepted getting that signed document would suppose a big fight and effort. But suddenly, she had those papers in her hands, but it wasn’t just that. Kaori felt she was released from a chain that held her prisoner for years. She looked at the ceiling, smiled and said:

-I’m finally free.