Clara fell silent for a long moment, then tried to pull herself out of Alfred’s embrace. But the man only tightened his arms around her, making her stop. At last, Clara said, “It’s precisely because I love you too much that I made this decision.”
“No. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t do this to me,” Alfred shot back. His tears fell onto Clara’s bare shoulder, leaving her stunned for a moment.
“Don’t we love each other? Then why do we have to separate?” Alfred asked as he turned Clara around to face him.
He cupped his beautiful Wife’s face. Her expression was still calm as he continued, “You don’t even look the slightest bit sad. Sweetheart, can’t you stay? I really do love you so much.”
“We’re not separating because we don’t love each other anymore, but because we’ve lost ourselves. I don’t want to be the reason you bury all your dreams and the things you love,” Clara said.
Her sweet smile widened. She held her Husband’s face and gazed intently at him, trying to commit to memory every detail of a face she might never again be able to see from this close. “Do everything you’ve always wanted to do.”
After that, she walked away without looking back. Alfred stood frozen as tears streamed down his face. And without him knowing, Clara’s tears were flowing even harder. The farther she walked, the more tears spilled from her eyes.
They loved each other, but without realizing it, their love had begun hurting them both. Clara felt selfish because Alfred always put her first. She felt guilty.
Throughout their married life, from the very beginning, Alfred had played the role of a husband exceptionally well. If Clara didn’t like the food their chef prepared, Alfred wouldn’t eat it either. If Clara wanted to try something new, Alfred would accompany her. If Clara disliked her job, Alfred would willingly leave his own so he could work with Clara at a new place.
Everything Clara wanted, Alfred always did. Even if Clara didn’t want to attend one of Alfred’s friends’ parties, the man was willing to let his friends distance themselves from him.
Alfred never went out without Clara. He never did anything that didn’t involve her. He never spent time with his friends and never brought up the things he liked. To Alfred, everything was for Clara. Clara came first.
At first, Clara was happy. She felt deeply loved. But little by little, that feeling turned into guilt. It was as if she had robbed Alfred of his life until the man lost himself. That was why she decided to get divorced, so she would no longer be the reason he abandoned everything he loved.
It was painful. But it was far more painful to watch him suffer in silence.
The next day, they went to court. Alfred was still deeply reluctant to separate. He tried to persuade Clara to cancel their divorce. But Clara firmly said she didn’t want mediation. Her decision was final.
“If this is truly what you want, then all I can do is accept it. But please, don’t distance yourself from me,” Alfred said just before Clara got into her car.
“I won’t,” Clara replied with a smile.
All Alfred could do was watch the woman he loved more than anything get into her car and drive away. He stood there in silence for a long while, waiting until Clara’s car had completely disappeared from view before getting into his own.
The next day, they met again at the company they had built together. But the atmosphere between them was extremely awkward.
They exchanged smiles before walking inside side by side. Their behavior immediately caught the employees’ attention. Everyone wondered why the couple who had always been so affectionate suddenly seemed so awkward.
By noon, news of their divorce had spread. Many people speculated about it, while many others regretted that it had come to this.
Just then, Alfred walked over to Clara’s office. He looked at the beautiful woman focused on the document in her hands, his eyes shining.
“Sweetheart,” he called.
Clara looked up and smiled. “You don’t need to call me that anymore.”
“I don’t want to,” Alfred refused.
He stepped closer and said, “One of our business partners offered me the chance to work with him.”
“Oh, really? That’s great!” Clara replied enthusiastically.
“But as a photographer,” Alfred continued.
Clara’s smile grew even wider. She looked delighted. “Isn’t that wonderful? Go for it. I know you’ll do a great job.”