Hearts Remember What Minds Try To Forget by Rex Wilder 31

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Two days later was the last day of the divorce cooling–off period. 

I checked myself out of the hospital and hailed a cab straight to the County Courthouse. 

Just as the car pulled away, my phone lit up. Sophia’s new Instagram post. 

Caption:“Best Daddy took time to bring our baby to the beach! Sharing our sweet daily life as a family of four~” 

Nine photos. Every face glowing with happiness. 

Used to make my chest tighten, my heart ache. 

Now? Nothing. 

No ripple, no pang. I didn’t even zoom in. I just shut off the phone. 

The courthouse came into view quickly. 

Four years ago, I walked in here with Ethan, hand in hand, brimming with hope, light on my feet. 

Today? Alone. 

But my steps were steady, solid as rock. 

The clerk went through the motions: questions, IDs, signatures. 

The stamp clicked. Two Divorce Decrees slid across the counter. 

“Here are your Divorce Decrees. Keep them safe,” the clerk said, all business. 

I picked up the thin booklets, tucked them away, and walked out. 

A light breeze brushed past, carrying a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in years. 

Back at the villa, I went straight to my room and opened the box I kept for “souvenirs.” 

First, a thick stack of sheet music–rare editions Ethan had collected for me. On the flyleaf of each, handwritten messages: 

“To my only star, may music always be with you!” 

“My wish is for Ella to love me as much as she loves the piano!” 

Next, a carved wooden box. Ninety–nine love letters, tied with ribbons. 

I picked one at random, dated shortly after we first met: 

“Ella: Tonight at the concert, you played on stage. Your eyes were so focused, lost in the music, like you were looking at your whole world. What you didn’t know–I was in the audience, eyes only on you. My heart was pounding because of you. I secretly prayed someday you’d look at me the way you look at your piano.” 

Another, shortly after we married: 

“To my wife: Thank God I met you. Marrying you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me! Blocking that knife for you? Best decision I ever made. No regrets. I love you more than anything. Thanks for trusting me, for giving yourself to me. I promise I’ll spend my whole life protecting you!” 

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I ran my fingers over the familiar words, once sweet, now sharp. Irony twisting with every syllable. 

I tossed the sheet music and letters back into the wooden box and carried it to the backyard. 

Click. I flicked a lighter. Flame leapt instantly. 

1 dropped a few letters in. Orange–red flames swallowed the rest. 

The vows charred, twisted, turned to ash. 

Just like our love. Dead, scattered into the wind. Gone. 

Done. 

Back in my bedroom, I grabbed a suitcase I’d packed ages ago: ID, passport, a few clothes. 

Phone? Deleted all accounts, cleared social media, snapped the SIM card in half. Done. 

I pulled the suitcase and walked out. 

At the villa gate, I paused. One last look at the cage that had held four years of happiness and pain. 

Then I turned and walked away. No hesitation. No looking back.