Stage 1. A Month of “Just Like Old Times”
Edward rewinds that month in his mind again and again, still unable to decide: did she seriously mean to let him go, or did she already know she’d leave herself?
After her calm response,
“Alright, if youre in love, just leave. But give me one gift”
he expected anything: tears, accusations, demands to know “who is she?”, late-night interrogations. But Claire simply added, looking him straight in the eye:
“Give me thirty days. Live at home as if nothing happened. As if youre still my husband. I wont ask questions or stop you from leaving. But these thirty days are mine. Can you do that?”
He felt oddly relievedhere was a mature woman, a decent divorce, no drama. It even flattered him that she didnt try to hold on.
“Of course,” he replied, easily. “I can do that.”
And so, the days began.
She didnt ask anythingdidnt check his phone, didnt pry for names, never initiated any “lets talk”. Instead, she was just the Claire hed once loved: calm, warm, saying things like, “Ive made meatballs, theyre still warm,” placing her hand on his shoulder as he walked through the door.
He brought her flowersunsure if it was guilt, or if Emma (the “other woman” had lived in his mind as Emma for quite some time) was nagging: “Are you just trying to destroy her?”so he buried his shame beneath bouquets.
Claire accepted the flowers and looked around as if she was memorising it allnot him, but the feeling of home. The scent of cinnamon. His shoes off in the hallway. The sound of her washing machine. The light on his shirt as he left the bedroom.
Edward even caught himself feeling strange: he didnt want to leave after all. That “other life” felt sharp, tempting, with the thrill of being desired. But here, it was safe. Too safe not to cherish. Yet, hed already told Claire: “I love someone else.” Consistency mattered now.
He didnt know Claire spent each evening after her shower sitting at the laptoptyping, not on social media, not for work, but writing lists of what shed take, what shed leave, and who shed warn.
Stage 2. The Morning She Didnt Leave After a RowShe Left Herself
He woke up to quiet.
Not that familiar hush with the coffee machine hissing, radio humming, Claire in the kitchen. This was a hollow silence, like a house where no ones lived yet.
“Claire?” he reached for her side of the bed, half-asleep.
Nothing. The duvet perfectly tucked, like a hotel. No pyjamas.
He got up and walked to the kitchen. Table cleaned. No pans on the stove. Her dressing gown wasnt draped over the chair. Her shoes missing from the hallway. The hook where her handbag always hungempty.
He wasnt alarmed at firstassumed shed left early to visit her mum. But then he saw a sheet of paper, folded in half, on the table. Standard notebook page. Her handwriting. Neat, precise.
At the topa single sentence, and it chilled him:
“Ed, I gave myself my own gift.”
He sat down. Opened it.
What he read next raised the hair on his neck.
Stage 3. The Note That Wasnt Just a Note
Not just an “Im leaving; be happy.” It was a dossier. Clinical, but with loveClaires patience woven through it. She wrote as if guiding him step by step, explaining:
“You said, I love someone else.’
I replied, Alright, leave.
But, Ed, you didnt grasp that it wasnt you leaving me; it was me letting you go.
You wanted freedomI granted it. But I needed 30 days to tie up loose ends and deal with your other woman.
So read this carefully. Dont tear it up or burn it. Youll need it.”
Then, point by point.
1. “The Flat”
“The flat you live inmine. I inherited it from my grandmother, and we registered it in my name right when we got married. You dont remember, but back then, you were in love and assumed wed be together forever.
You suggested twice, over the past two years, that we sell and buy bigger. I declinednow you see why.
Yesterday, I submitted paperwork to Land Registry to bar any changes unless Im present. So, you and your other woman wont be moving in or selling my flat.”
2. “The Car”
“You can keep the car. Its yours. Ive signed it over to youyes, reallybecause I dont want you thinking I aim to leave you empty-handed. This isn’t revenge. Im simply drawing clear lines.”
3. “About Your Other Woman”
Here is where his skin truly crawled.
“You think I dont know who she is. I do. Her name is Emma. Shes 29, works at a travel agency, and adores the high life.
You didnt happen to meet hershe conveniently appeared when you were out with your mates.
But thats not all.
Ten days ago, I met her. Yes, Ed. I met her. Shes well aware you have a wife.
We sat in a café. I said, If you love my husband, lets get acquainted.
She played shy at first, but when I mentioned your weekend in Bath, the hotel on the M4, and the bracelet you gave hershe relaxed.
Guess what she said?
Claire, youre wonderful. But Edwards a grown man; he makes his own choices.
Then:
Im not planning to be his wife or do his washing. As long as he pays my rent and holidays, Im satisfied. Want him back? Fine, just keep sending the money.
I recorded the conversation.”
Inside the envelope was a small USB stick.
Edward exhaled. He couldnt believe it. Emma? His Emma? The one hed gone “out gracefully” for, sparing Claire? To say something like that?
He kept reading.
4. “Why I Asked for a Month”
“Im not mad. I didnt want to nag you at night or cause rows. I needed to:
find Emma and hear her out calmly;
reverse the money youd started quietly sending her from our joint account (yes, Ed, joint means both of us, not you and your girlfriend);
alert the bank youd likely try to withdraw savings;
ready divorce paperwork so you wouldnt get caught out;
and remember you as you were. Not the guilt-stricken man tiptoeing home with guilt-flowers, but the one who laughed, ate my cottage pie, and kissed my neck in the morning.
That was my gift to me. I wanted another month of a normal marriage. The last one. Thenclose the door.”
He felt terrified. All this time, he thought he was in control. That hed be the generous, honest one, “leaving gently”, even thanked for his candour. Turns outClaire had everything calculated long ago.
5. “What Happens Now”
“By the time you read this, Ill be off to my mums in York. Thats where Ill file for divorce.
You dont need to comeits all handled by my solicitor.
You keep the car and your personal things.
The kitchen loanits yours now (you always called it your den, so pay up).
Shared savingsfrozen until we sign an agreement.
Oh, and Emma will leave her travel agency in a month and marrynot you. She already has a fiancé.
She told me herself. That recordings on the USB.
So, Ed, you love not another woman, but your illusioncraftily orchestrated by a woman well versed in such things.”
The final paragraph softened.
“Youre not a bad man. You just believed you were irresistible. Its a common male weakness.
I did love you. For a long time.
But do I love a man ready to trade our life for a fling with someone in a short skirt?no.
Soleave.
And next time, before you tell someone I love another, check first if the other actually loves you.
Goodbye.
Your once easy wife,
Claire.”
At the bottom, one more note that made his ears burn:
“P.S. If you try to find me or cause a scenethe recording with Emma will go to your boss and your mother. Not out of spite. Sometimes, its good to see yourself from someone elses perspective.”
Stage 4. Reality Check
The first thing he did was grab his laptop. He plugged in the USB. The recording started.
You see, Claire, Emmas voice sounded, steady, even a little cheerful, why are you clinging to Edward? Youre a grown woman. Hes decent, generous, but you know he has a family. Im not stupidIm not marrying him. Got what I needed from himthats all.
What if he decides to leave? Claire said calmly.
So? Hell realise in six months Im never cooking for him. Ill be married by then anyway. Like I saidI have someone else. Edwards just convenient for now.
He thinks he loves you.
Let him think that, Emma scoffed. Men like to play lovestruck boy. As long as the money flows, thats all I need. Dont worry, I wont steal your husband. Not interested.
Claires voice was a little softer:
What if I give him back myself?
Go ahead! Emma laughed. Im not chasing him, only opportunities.
Edward switched it off.
A physical wave of cold washed over him. Now his chest felt empty and sticky.
Hed left his wife for someone planning to marry another.
Hed confessed, trying to be honest to a wife whod spent the month quietly plugging all financial holes behind him.
He thought he was acting like an adult and ended up looking like a naive boy with a big wallet.
Hed never felt such shame.
Stage 5. Why She Needed That Gift
Only by evening did he understand why Claire called it a “gift”.
He thought he was giving her a presentcandour.
Shed given herself a presenttime.
In those thirty days she had:
removed their shared money from his reach;
confirmed the other woman was no rival, just a taker;
sorted paperwork for her own home and life;
and most importantly, said goodbye on her own terms.
She didnt slam doors or smash plates.
She left with dignity. So now, the pain wasnt hersit was his.
Edward sat on the floor in the hallway. Their hallway. Her flat. And for the first time that monthhe cried. Not because my wife left, but because he finally realised:
Shed always been smarter.
Shed always known.
And shed always loved himlike an adult, not like Emma “as long as the payments kept coming”.
He grabbed his phone. Found Emma. Dialled.
“Hello, love,” she answered lightly. “Bit early”
“Can we meet?” he croaked.
“Oh, no,” she sighed right away. “Im with Sam tonight. Told you before. Dont make a fuss. You know I have my own life.”
“With Sam?” his throat dried. “Hes your fiancé?”
“Lets call him that,” she shrugged. “Ed, please. Lets not do this. You helpedthanks. But I never promised you anything. Ive got to go.”
The line went dead.
He stared at the screen.
That was it.
Hed lost his wife for a woman who only saw him as a payment option.
Epilogue
A week later, a real letter arrived.
“Ed.
Dont look for me.
Im not angry.
I just finished.
If you ever reach the point where you can love a real person, not just an illusionyoull be fine.
But next time dont say I love another until you know the other isnt saying about you what Emma said to me.
Take care.
C.”
He set the letter next to her first note and realised: her greatest giftthe one she’d given himwas letting him see himself clearly. Completely. Without decoration.
And that made his hair truly stand on endbecause seeing himself like that was more terrifying than ever admitting, “I fell for someone else.”
