This is not my usual type of writing but I had to write it because it would not let go.

A cruel smile crossed his lips as his words hit her like a slap in the face. It had become so routine that he never thought it would ever change. He left her standing there in the kitchen as he headed up to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He climbed into bed and waited because he knew she would eventually follow him and beg to be forgiven or so he thought. Eventually he fell asleep and the night passed till the alarm went off in the morning. When he woke up he stretched and reached over for her side of the bed but it was empty. He stretched and slid his legs off the side of the bed, a little irritated by the fact she was not there. He headed into the shower then got dressed for work before heading downstairs expecting to find her in the kitchen making him breakfast and holding out a coffee for him. When he entered the doorway, he stopped a little taken back by the fact she was not there. His eyes searched while he grew impatient, beginning to call out her name expecting her to come running the way she always did but he was only met with silence. He walked towards the front window and parted the curtain noticing that her car was not parked in the driveway.

Anger welled up inside of him as he realized she dared to leave without getting his permission. He stormed through the house, pausing at the table that sat at the front door where they kept their keys. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her phone and the house key set neatly on top of a folded piece of paper. He picked up the phone and studied it as if it might morph into something else then turned it on or at least tried to. When it did not work he foolishly thought he could somehow fix it by calling her number. The message he got in response told him that the number was no longer in service. His breath caught in his throat as his hands started to tremble ever so slightly, picking up the paper and slowly unfolding it. The message was clearly in her writing and he began to read.

Sam,

  I loved you from the moment we met and I promised to always love you but over time you stopped seeing me as a person and only something you owned. You criticized everything I did or did not do, you controlled me and kept me a prisoner in my own life. When I tried to tell you how I felt you would just dismiss me. By the time you finish reading this I will be long gone. I am now learning how to love myself again without you tearing me down.

  Jessica

Attached to the bottom of the paper with a piece of tape was her wedding ring. He stood there in stunned silence realizing his control had disappeared and she was no longer there to be his emotional punching bag. He was so busy believing she would never leave while she was slowly writing herself out of his life. Eventually he was served divorce papers and she asked for nothing, she did not bargain, she simply found her freedom.