Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

His letter

1 stare at the piece of paper on my table, not really sure what to do about it.

I was now at home. I had gotten back like an hour ago. The whole time, I spent it debating whether I should open it or tear it to pieces

The paper had been burning a hole in my purse the entire time I drove back home. Now, here I am

Still staring at it.

A part of me was curious about it contents. The other didn’t much care about what was written. The man who wrote it hated me. What good could come out of reading a letter written by him?

I pick it up, about to tear it, but a voice stops me.

‘Just read the damn thing. What’s the worst that could happen?‘ my inner voice whispers.

I cringe at the words.

Famous last words. I think to myself.

The worst thing that could happen is he hurts me.

Words were dangerous. They cause more damage than any weapon can. I still remember some of the harsh words my so called parents said to me over the years. The wounds their words inflicted

have never truly healed.

‘Just open it!‘ the voice screams.

Not giving myself a second to back out, I unfold the letter.

[Dear Ava,

If you’re reading this then it’s because I didn’t make it out of surgery. Truth be told, I don’t think I

will. They’re trying to save me not knowing that their efforts are futile. I am too far gone and I can already see you grandparents calling me to come join them. It may be the imagination of a dying

man or not, but I believe I have a special place in hell for how I treated you.

You were such a sweet girl when Winnie left you with us, but we destroyed that. We destroyed

your light and I will forever regret that I did that to you my sweet girl.

I remember when she still had you. I used to play with you and Emma. You were so innocent and

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with you, Travis

None of what he said was making any sense. If he used to like being around me when Winnie was still alive, then what the hell changed?

down at the piece of

don’t know why I turned out to be such a monster to you, but when Winnie died and she asked us to take you in, something just shifted inside me.

as an excuse because nothing can make how we treated you

and

is really a vengeful bitch. I am getting

I want to tell you how sorry I am. For everything I did to

what I did and said, but it’s all I have. I’m so

father. Sorry for being the monster in your

deserve it. What I

mother. She’ll need you. She has a

mistakes towards

may not have showed it to you,

darling sweet

fold the paper and shove it back in my bag

letter affected me so much when mother’s tears didn’t.

last thing he wrote before died.

for my bedroom. I push

to think about them. I don’t want to think about the pain they caused me. I just

to think about anything. I block them because I know that if I

then I would

now. It would cost me more than

going to risk going

my soul.

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bed and lie down Refusing to let the tears flow. I’ve cried enough for these

waste my tears on people that didn’t deserve anything from me.

both emotional and physical weighs me down and I fall into a dreamless

up it’s around eleven

scramble from my bed, falling down in the process. I was supposed to pick Noah up at nine since Rowan had to fly out for a business

I’m done I rush down the stairs,

was wearing a suit

awake” Noah screams with his mouth full. “I wanted to wake you up, but dad told me

here?” I

and eat something. I want to finish these

meeting? You should

sleep, so I let you sleep” he says as if it were

that I don’t know what to think. This was a side of him I didn’t know existed. I don’t want to see it because I don’t want to think of him as the good guy. I don’t want to see this caring and kind