NEALThe smell of slow-cooked beef stew filled the kitchen as I hummed and did little dance steps to Train's "hey, soul sister." blaring from my headphones. My sleeves were rolled up, hands covered in flour from the pie crust I'd been kneading earlier. I looked at the clock again- 6:42 PM. I wiped my hands on the towel draped over my shoulder and reached for my phone on the counter.My heart thumped with this stupid, boyish kind of excitement. I felt like a teenager about to ask his crush to prom. Hell, this was my wife. My woman. But today wasn't just any day.It was our anniversary. Three years.Three years of ups and downs. Laughs and fights. Quiet mornings and long nights. But through all of it, she'd stayed mine. Or... I thought she had.I paused the music right before hitting "call" beside her name. Elisa. She picked up quick."Hey, babe." Her sweet voice came through soft and tired. Lately, she'd been extra busy at work because of some project. She'd left home very early just

NEALI froze.Everything in my body went still. Like time had paused just to let my rage boil."What did you just say?" I said low, slow, and dangerous.Jack grinned, that spoiled rich-boy grin that made me want to drive his face through a wall."I said," he repeated, cocky as ever. "Go back to your garage and fix a tire or something. Let real men take care of your woman."That was it.I didn't even think as I slammed my fist into his chest, hard this time. Jack stumbled back, crashing into a chair. The people around us gasped, some getting up and backing away.Elisa screamed."Neal, stop! STOP!"But I wasn't done. Jack lunged at me, but he was slow. Weak. I grabbed his shirt collar and slammed him down onto the table, plates crashing and glasses shattering on the floor.A waiter ran forward. "Sir- Sir, please! You have to stop this- this is a private establishment.""Elisa's my wife!" I roared, throwing Jack off the table and dragging him toward the pool just behind the dining sectio

NEAL The garage was dark. The only light came from the moon shining through the small square window near the top of the wall. Dust was hanging in the air like ghosts and the silence was pressing on me like I was under a heavy blanket. I didn't go to our bedroom, because I could not stand the sight of her. I stood there for a while, just breathing heavily and battling the urge to cause more destruction than I already have. I wanted to scream, get my hand on something and break it. But I didn't.I just stood there, soaking in all the anger and pain and sadness alone. Like I had been all along and didn't even know it. That was the moment a soft knock sounded on the garage door, snapping me out of my reverie."Neal?" Elisa's voice came through, low and unsure. "Can I come in?"I didn't answer.But she pushed the door open slowly anyway and stepped in. She had taken off her heels. Her feet were bare, and hair was done now, a little messy. Her makeup had smudged, and she looked tired- he

NEAL I didn't know what the hell I was walking into when I pulled into that driveway.I killed the engine and just sat there for a minute, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the house that used to feel like home. It looked the same on the outside. It had the same white siding, same rose bush under the window that she loved so much, but it all felt different now. It felt like a stranger's place, like a house that belonged to someone I didn't recognize anymore.When Elisa called and said she'd sign the papers, I almost didn't come because it felt too quick to be true considering how she'd been begging me not to leave but I thought maybe she was done putting on that mask of pity-seeking sadness on her face, like she didn't know what she'd done. Part of me wanted to tell her to mail them or just leave them in the mailbox. But some stupid part of me wanted to see her one more time. Maybe I was still hoping she was going to say something that made sense.I stepped out of the truck and

NEALThe cool morning air hit me in the face again as I emerged from the house. I walked down the driveway, shoes scuffing against the cracked pavement. My heart was pounding like a drum, but it wasn't from running or fear. No. It was anger. White-hot, choking anger.I did not look back at the house. I didn't care to see her standing there while Jack came after me. My mind was done trying to make sense of her choices. It was done trying to forgive. I'd decided to just take a little walk before leaving, because I feared something bad would happen if I got into my car and drove in this state.I walked to the roadside, where the traffic on the main street was already busy with commuters. Cars zipped by, engines were roaring and horns were honking every so often. I stood near the curbs and stared across the road, not really seeing anything.My jaw was so tight and my hands were clenched again. She called me here to what? Rub it in my face? Ask me to cook for him? I felt sick. I'd done ev