I Still Love You

The following morning, Dave and Carol sat beside each other on the couch looking at the divorce paper, wondering if they should fill it up. They divorce was suppose to happen a few days after Adeline's graduation ceremony, but it was posponed because Adeline went missing.

"Are you willing to wait till she comes back?" Carol asked, looking at the picture frame that contained Adeline's high school graduation photo.

"Why don't we just stay like this?" Dave looked away. "I don't wanna get divorced."

"If you're saying this just because of our daughter, then you should consider—"

"Is it wrong to say that I still love you? We made vows on our wedding. Are you just gonna forget all those memories in the past?"

"You treat me as if you're more superior. What I am to you? A cleaner?"

"I-I'm sorry for saying all those things to you. I was just so tired from work..."

"Don't make that as an excuse! Do you think my job to maintain the cleanliness of this house is easy too?" Carol stood up. "All you think about is yourself!"

"I'll try to change. Please just—"

"Change? You've told me that a hundred times and I can't believe that I actually expected you to fulfill your promise!"

"I've hurt you in the past and I can't do anything but to apologize."

"Are you just telling me this because you're afraid that you wouldn't have anyone to clean the house now?" Carol slammed the table. "You even gambled and made Adele pay for our debts! Do you have any shame? You never even tried to find a job and you call yourself a hard working man?"

"Let's rise back together then. Are you leaving me because my business has closed down? You promised to stay by my side no matter what happens. Now that I'm at my lowest, you're really giving up on me?"

"Just to make it clear, I did not marry you for your money. I married you because I loved you, but now that you're just taking me for granted, let's not waste each other's time and just sign the divorce paper."

"Think about our daughter! Do you not care about her feelings?"

"I can't take it anymore! I've had enough of you. Enough of us."

"You have no one to—"

"My brother's friend wants to court me."

"Your planning on finding a new husband at this age?" Dave grabbed her wrist. "You're actually leaving me for another man?"

"I'm not leaving you." Carol smiled. "We're leaving each other."

"What will Adele think of you once this gets to her? Do you just plan to give up everything you have just for that man?"

"I never said I was giving it all up. I'm just curious to see if our relationship works well, so don't worry cause I won't forget my responsibility as Adele's mother."

"I-Is there really no hope for us to get back together?"

"Fine." Carol turned her back. "We'll wait for Adele and see what happens then."

"What do you mean?" Dave stood up.

"I'll still try to love you despite everything you've done, happy?"

"No!" Dave hugged her tight. "D-Don't leave me. I'm sorry. Just don't—"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? I'll make up my mind when the time comes, so for now we'll be sleeping in separate rooms."

"You don't even wanna sleep with me now?"

"See? That's what I hate about you! I've already explained everything, but you still keep on complaining! Stop acting like a child!"

"For the past thirty years, I've been doing my best to give you and our daughter a good life, but I've never even heard you thank me. Yes, it's my responsibility as the father to provide for our family, but have you even appreciated me at least once? When I get home, you don't even ask how my day was at work and just serve the food. You don't even eat with me. Do you think it's only you that has a problem?"

"That's it?" Carol bursted into laughter. "That's your problem?"

"So what if it is?" Dave glared at her.

"I can't believe that I actually married an idiot."