I stood there silent, shaken to the core, steeped in utter disbelief. After 15 years of marriage, it only took a single sentence for me to realise Zyier wasn't the man I thought him to be. And on our anniversary? My body spazzed ever so slightly as my brain flailed between allowing my shivering knees to crumble beneath me, or releasing me of consciousness, freeing my last shrivel of sanity from the nightmare about to erupt before me.

Peering beyond the confetti sprinkled on his shoulder, our life sized wedding cutout drew me into the world we were supposed to inhabit for the remainder of our lives. The warmth of our smiles as our eyes locked. The clasp of his hand on top of mine filled me with comfort and security. I love my husband. And I believed until thirty seconds before my guts churned from disgust, that he wholeheartedly loved me too.

"A-hmm."

The clearing of his throat annoyed me to no end as my eyes sharply cut in his direction.

"Candi, you okay?"

Fuck no. I'm not okay. The tinge of concern seemed irrelevant for the man who had done nothing but love and protect me since we met. That is, until today. From the day he delivered flowers to my parents' employee lounge, Zyier's existence constantly pulled me deeper into his orbit. Yet, unexpectedly, on the best day of my life, it became the last place I desired to be.

"Say something, hun."

What the hell am I supposed to say?

"Please, babe, talk to me."

Zyier's lanky legs inched him closer to me. Appalled at the idea of being next to him, I fought to stifle bile as I slowly shook my head. Taking a calculated step back, I found reason to even curse my shoes. These damn stilettos weren't gliding me around our living room as we danced to 'our' song. Instead, they nearly betrayed me, getting caught on the hem of my evening gown, damn near forcing me to stumble in front of the fraud of a husband squirming in front of me. 

His eyes bulging, his skin growing more pale by the second. His jerky, uncoordinated movements rendering him more like a fish out of water than a successful financial analyst with stock options and a corner office with a view.

Coward.

"Well, since you won't share what's on your mind, I'll explain what's been on mine."

I loathed him even more for thinking I gave any kind of a damn about what he thought after pummeling me with his previous speech which had to be created in a dank place beneath hell. But with nothing left to lose, I posted myself next to the fireplace. Resting weight onto one hip, I folded my arms over my exposed cleavage, attempting to slow my breathing before my rapid - firing heart arrested.

"You deserve better."

This fool is not about to hit me with the it's me not you bullshit. There goes my stressed out heart.

"Over the last few years, things have...changed between us. I'm sure you've noticed it too."

Was he seeking collusion? Along with an aching head, my entire body itched. At this point, I realized my cognitive dissonance had kicked in. Chuckling, I surmised, I could seriously get away with murder right now.

My gaze shifted down, towards the fire poke next me. Temporary insanity is still a thing... right?

Zyier rubbed his chin, then scooped a glass of bourbon from the platter on the coffee table. Again... coward. The dribbling of liquid down his chin made him appear even more foolish as he continued to speak.

"We've always been honest with one another. At least, I have tried to be honest with you, but that left me lying to myself. And that's even worse than deceiving the person you love, don't you think?"

For Christ's sake. "Zy...what the fuck is your point?"

The way he jumped when I spoke, I was pleased my outburst shook his pathetic soul.

"The, uh, point is that this..." His head swiveled towards the kitchen island. "This is best for us... all of us."

Caught up in a flurry of emotions, I totally forgot there was another person in our home. My eyes focused on their presence, though I still couldn't even begin to process the audacity of someone, anyone, essentially ruining a marriage to boldly stick around and watch the travesty play out. Yet, there they were. 

That  was the moment that I concluded the temporary insanity plea would work flawlessly. I unfolded my arms, gripped the fire poke and waved it wildly in the air, screaming until my throat tingled and burned. When I paused knocking shit over and opened my eyes, Zyier's were wide as half dollars. On a positive note though, the deplorable human invading my marriage was gone. My husband took a deep breath, then parted his dry ass lips to speak.

"Shut up, Zy. Just shut the fuck up, and get the hell out, right now."

The calmness in my tone terrified even me. I tossed my weapon aside and inhaled, disappointed that I allowed the love of my life to remain free of injuries or a toe tag. He did look distressed as hell though, and for now, that would do. Pressing my lips downward, I tilted my head to one side, huffed, then stormed towards the stairs.

"You really want me gone?"

"If I answer, you won't have a choice in how you leave."

As my bare heel landed on the third step, I heard. "I'm sorry."

The chime of the door alarm brought great relief that Zy didn't prolong the fight about leaving. But it also released a fragmented damn of confusion and emotions I never fathomed I would have to experience not only fifteen years ago, but in this lifetime. On the day I cherished more than life itself, who would have thought that I would be alone, drowning in whisky and sorrow instead of celebrating the marriage that was supposed to be solid and loving for eternity? Not me.

Dizzy while wiping aside snot and tears from my ruby lips, I dialed up my best friend, only to begin bellowing like an injured whale when she answered. 

Her response, "Be there in twenty."