A departure that looked like a defeat

When I left the lawyer’s office, everyone would have sworn I’d just lost everything. The house?  Surrendered unconditionally.  The car? Given away. My savings?  Left without regret.  Sylvain, my ex-husband, was smiling as if he’d just won the lottery. And me? I got into the elevator, light-hearted, and let out a small, discreet, almost childish laugh.  It was exactly what I’d planned.

The mirage of appearances

Sylvain and I had long since lost our connection. He was attracted to anything that glittered:  high-end cars, social appearances, an image of success.  For years, I was the perfect companion, always smiling at business dinners,  withdrawing whenever it was necessary to put him forward.  But deep down, I was preparing my exit. Not an escape,  more like a deliverance.

The unexpected agreement

When the time came to share, Sylvain asked for everything with theatrical confidence: house, car, bills… Like a child making a list of his favorite toys. I nodded. “Okay, take everything.” The lawyer gave me a puzzled look. Sylvain, on the other hand, was jubilant.

A smile behind every box

I went home to “pack my bags,” as he said. But in truth, my important belongings  had already been elsewhere for a while.  Each closed box marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It wasn’t an escape, but  a transition to a lighter life.  And what came next was going to be delicious.

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