I just smiled and said,
“You’re right. A piece of paper doesn’t change anything.”
Michael looked at me with satisfaction.
He thought he had won.
When we got home, he went straight to the bedroom and fell asleep after a few minutes.
I stayed in the kitchen.
I sat there alone in the dark, thinking about the ten years we spent together.
I remembered how I paid off their debts.
When I was free at work when I was sick, and I stayed up all night.
When I spent my savings on the advance of our home.
When I added it to my health insurance.
And suddenly I realized a very simple thing.
Michael wanted all the benefits of having a wife, but not her husband’s responsibilities.
I wanted my home, my stability, my care, my money and my loyalty.
But when I asked for legal protection, he called it “my problem.”
