I Want a Divorce by Nadia Gordon

Scarlett was ecstatic. She took her phone out with excitement and said, “I’ll call Josh and tell him to get everything prepared.”
“There’s not-”
Scarlett had left happily before Abigail could finish. She sighed. Fine. She can do what she wants.
Lawrence approached Abigail. Lovingly, he said, “You can go back to work if you have to. Your mother and I can take care of
Analise. It’s fine.”
“I’m not that busy,” Abigail answered. She was a little uneasy toward Lawrence and Scarlett’s passionate attitude, but Analise
would leave the hospital the next day. She didn’t have to face these people anymore, and she was looking forward to it.
Sean knew what she was thinking, and he finally let go of his obsession, though just a bit. She equally refuses everyone who’s
hurt her.
The meeting with Gary was arranged to be at noon the next day. Gary said he wanted to see Analise, so Analise, who had left
the hospital, came back for the visit, too. Gary was still in the ICU, so the visitors got changed before they went in.
Abigail noticed that Lawrence and Scarlett weren’t looking as cheerful as before. They looked at Gary, their eyes red. Patricia
was there as well. She held Gary’s hand tightly, shedding tears in silence.
Noticing something, Abigail pursed her lips. Lawrence and Scarlett looked at her expectantly, and she slowly approached Gary.
“Abby...” Gary said quietly, his eyes filled with tears. “I’ve missed you.
Abigail didn’t feel anything before that, but when Gary said her name, something touched her heart. She blinked, tears welling in
her eyes. “I’m here, Grandpa.”
Gary smiled happily. “I can’t be with you anymore. I thought I could maybe see you one day, spend some time in the lounge back
at home chatting and eating, but alas...”
The elderly man took a deep breath, but his breathing sounded like a piece of wood that was about to crack. “I’m sorry. I’m really
sorry...” Gary cursed himself. He failed to protect his real granddaughter because that fake, Kelly, tricked him.
Abigail quickly said, “I never blamed you. Any of you, for that matter.”

“I curse myself... and what I...” he mumbled softly. There was regret in his eyes, but he no longer had the chance to make things
up to the one family member he owed the most.
Abigail didn’t blame him at all.
Gary looked at her and gently said, “You used to love sitting on my shoulders. I remember those times. You’d tell me to keep
running ahead. We went to zoos, amusement parks...”
Abigail was tearing up, too.
“I left something for you, Abby,” Gary said before he looked at Patricia. “G-Give it to her.”
Abigail wanted to say no, but she knew it would make Gary feel worse. Patricia took out a patterned rosewood box from the
cabinet. The four corners of the box were decorated with gold. It looked nice.
Patricia gave the box to Abigail. Hoarsely, she said, “Your grandfather left you this. There are some toys in it. You loved them
when you were little.”
Abigail took the box and put it on her arm, and then she opened it up carefully. She saw stacks of paper on the bottom, and she
knew what they were without guessing. But what caught her eye were the little toys on the papers. Most were trinkets. Some
were made of plastic, but some were expensive. Abigail then saw a little lock. She picked the golden lock up and had a closer
look.
“You... grabbed this... when you first learned... how to hold things. You wore it... around your neck... for years... This lock was
left behind... on the day... you went missing.” Gary felt a great sense of dismay at that point. “Where... Where is Vincent?
Where’s the little bystard?”
“Dad!” Lawrence called out, worried.
Abigail noticed that the ECG was getting erratic. She said, “Get the doctor quickly!”
“He’s a b*stard! And Martha, too! They hurt Abby! Abby, promise me you will go home. You must go home! You must... go...”
Gary tried to get up, but before he could finish his sentence, he fell back to the bed, his eyes wide open.
Abigail stared at him. His eyes were wide open, but the ECG was a straight line.
“Dad!”

“Gary!”
“Grandpa!”
Shouts ensued. Abigail held the golden lock tightly. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t make a sound. Suddenly, something
flashed in her mind. She heard silvery laughter, and she took a few steps backward, holding her head.
Sean quickly took the box and held her in his arms. “What’s wrong?”
Abigail was pale. She looked at the golden lock in her hands. The sea crashed down on her, drowning her in fear. A fair hand
grabbed the lock before her, and she fell, deeper and deeper.
“Abigail?” Sean shook her.
Abigail started breathing faster. She frowned, shivering violently. I’m scared. It’s so dark under the water.
“Abigail? Abigail, are you alright? It’s me, Analise!” Analise’s voice rang beside her.
Abigail thought some machine was buzzing in her mind.