12: Ash‘ s And Kate’s
Marriage.
When the signed divorce papers arrived, I stared at them for a moment. The crisp white sheets in my hands, Ash’s signature at the bottom corner. It was really over.
The man who had once been my whole world was now nothing more than a closed chapter. There was no point in lingering on what couldn’t be changed. I was free.
The next few weeks I went through a lot of recovery, both physical and emotionalEach day, I regained a little more strength, I had been taken care of by my brother and dad.
During quiet hours alone, I realized what I really needed. I made a decision, a fresh start, far away from Ash, Kate, and the constant reminders of everything I’d endured.
I sighed, I knew what I had to do.
One evening, I sat with Seth and dad at the
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- Ash’s And Kate’s Marriage.
“I need this,” I explained, meeting his concerned gaze. “I want to continue my studies and… I need therapy. Real therapy. Staying here would mean running into them, Ash, Kate, all of it. I’m not ready for that.”
Seth’s expression softened, and he nodded. “You‘ re right. You deserve to heal, Astrid. To move forward.”
Dad gave me a small smile. “We’ll miss you, but we’ll always be here for you.”
Their encouragement was warming and after a while of waiting, In no time I was offered an admission.
I had hoped for one although I knew that with my qualifications I was going to be offered one.
When the acceptance letter arrived, I beamed a genuine smile. This was it. A chance to rebuild myself.
What I only wanted now was to continue her studies, and also get some therapy, I
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would be fine I knew that.
I spent the next few weeks preparing, sorting through the remnants of my old life, packing up what little I wanted to take with me, and letting go of the rest.
In that period of time, I spent time with my brother and dad, then visiting mother in the hospital. I was going to really miss them but at the same time I knew I had to explore the world, find my place and grow and they knew that too.
***
Two years had passed like a whirlwind. After leaving for a fresh start abroad, I had successfully severed all ties with Ash s family and even our mutual friends.
Ash’s family always loved me, and saw me as their daughter. They tried to reach out to me multiple times, and they didn’t even allow Kate, and Ash to be married all
this time, all because of me. But… I needed to cut them off, to recover from this pain.
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12: Ash’s And Kate’s Marriage.
The memories tied to them were too heavy,
that I had been too painful and had only just been a last now.
In truth, I barely had time for my own family during those years. I buried myself in my studies and therapy, rebuilding the pieces of myself that had been shattered.
I had made a lot of progress, even to my surprise.
Still, news had a way of reaching me. A year ago, I heard that Ash’s family had. finally accepted Ash and Kate‘ s relationship, and allowed them to get married.
Apparently he threatened to cut off contact with them for her, and even go as far as saying that they’d elope, and get married.
Finally, with no other choice, they got hastily married.
At the time, I felt stupid for how deeply it hurt. They had both ruined our lives, but here they were, enjoying their life.
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But that was then. Now, I was no longer the same Astrid who had been broken by their actions. Therapy had taught me to release the anger and focus on what truly mattered to myself and my loved ones.
Which was why I was here.
I had reached out to a renowned brain specialist while abroad to find better care for my mother. Even after two years, she hadn’t woken up from her coma, and I refused to give up on her. It was time to take care of the person who had always
taken care of me.
As the plane was landing, I prepped my mind and took a deep breath as I stated out the window at the familiar cityscape below.
My heart was heavy with mixed emotions, nervousness, anxiety, and an odd sense of
homesickness.
I really had missed home.
When the wheels touched the ground, an anxious smile tugged at my lips. I was
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