After She Said Yes Read online

  “I am happy for you Aurora. It’s just…”

  “Just what?” Aurora said proudly, as if she were a peacock fluffing up her feathers. “I will be the assistant editor-in-chief.”

  “That is awesome, Aurora,” Tessa replied with a concerned voice. “I am truly happy for you, but as your best friend, I have to be honest with you.”

  “About what? You should be so excited for me, but you are always honest with me,” Aurora said as she threw up her hands in agreement. “All right, say what you want to say.”

  Tessa said, “I am excited for you, like I said.” Tessa then hesitated for a moment as Aurora waited for her reasoning. Tessa continued, “Why don’t you just slow down, Aurora? You need a break. Why do you always make big decisions?”

  “I never make big decisions for myself,” Aurora responded with pity.

  Tessa responded and said, “You married Gannon on a whim. That was a big decision.”

  “That was one time! Come on.”

  “Maybe it was once, but that one time really affected your life,” Tessa said. “So, I am just saying you should think about it. That’s all.”

  “I have thought about it,” Aurora snapped back. “I always resented Gannon for never taking that job at The Times a few years back. I don’t want to miss an opportunity like this again. I want to start over and make something for myself.”

  “Aurora,” Tessa said, “can’t you do that here, though? You are already a well-known writer.”

  “I just want to do this for me. I need a change. I have been in this state my whole life. I need a change.” Aurora looked down and then sat up straight and proud.

  “But…” Tessa said before Aurora interrupted her.

  “But you know my not making a big decision is not me, Tessa. I don’t slow down. I go big or I go home. That is why I am leaving. I don’t give up on anything. Even if I hate something, I try to fix it and make it bearable. Gannon treated me like crap, but I tried to fix him. I thought it would make things better. I revamped the magazine and made it a gold mine. I turned down The Times before. I am not doing it again. I am doing this for me. It is the. First. Time. In. My. Life. I am doing something for me.”

  Tessa responded, as if she were playing devil’s advocate, “Okay, but do you think you won’t get burned out?”

  “No, and if I do, I know I always have good friends like you to come back to.”

  “Yes, you do. I just don’t want to lose you again!” Tessa exclaimed. “That’s all. Gannon hated when you and I spent time together. It is like I finally got you back, and now I am losing you again. You are my best friend.”

  Aurora started getting sentimental. “Look, Tessa, my grandma once told me that anyone would be lucky to make one good friend that could stick by their side forever, through the nasty divorces, heartbreaks, and sickness. She said that is the most cherished gift to have a friend like that. A friend that stays by your side. Your friendship is a cherished gift to me. You are still and will always be my best friend. I can come back and visit, or you could come and visit me. They are putting me in this fancy loft. It is furnished and everything.”

  Aurora pulled out her phone and showed Tessa the pictures of her new loft in New York City.

  Tessa then said as she let out a big breath of air, “It looks amazing. I am happy for you. Just don’t forget about me when you are super famous.” Tessa sat back and laughed.

  “Of course not,” Aurora said. “Anyway, how are you and Dan?”

  The rest of their conversation consisted of Tessa talking about Dan. It was the first time in a while that Aurora had seen Tessa so smitten by someone.

  Chapter 27

  It was the day of the divorce and Aurora could not sleep the night before. She was up all night worrying about what would happen if Gannon didn’t come to court, even though the lawyer had reassured her several times they would be divorced regardless, if he showed up or not. However, she was still anxious about that and the nasty pre-nup. She would be anxious until the judge hammered down his gavel for the last time.

  Aurora took a Xanax about an hour before her court time to calm her nerves. She unbuttoned her black suit jacket as she felt it was hard to breath. She wanted to undue her bra, too because of the tightness she felt in her chest, to make it easier to breathe but she didn’t. She met with her lawyer about thirty minutes before the court appointment for a briefing. The lawyer tried to calm her down, but the lawyer’s attitude made him lack any real emotion toward her. Maybe he thought she was being dramatic or he felt that he had been through so many divorce cases that hers was a piece of cake.

  “Aurora,” her lawyer said in a monotone voice, “everything is going to be okay.”

  “Why are you so calm about the conversation?” Aurora said.

  “Well, I have done many divorce cases,” he said. “Yours isn’t that bad.”

  Ouch, but I guess that is reassuring to know that people had have it far worse than me I do, Aurora thought.

  “I would say what you said hurt my feelings, but then again, I hired you to be honest and not sugarcoat anything.”

  “So, I assume the pre-nup will be brought to attention and when it is, Gannon’s lawyer will try to detest against it.” He continued, “But there is no need to worry. He will not win.”

  He pulled some files out of manila folder he had in his briefcase. He then showed the text messages of him saying sorry and admitting that he cheated on Aurora. She felt sick to see the reminder of Gannon’s deceit.

  Her lawyer said, “Well, are you ready to go in?”

  “I mean, I am anxious. Like really anxious,” Aurora said. “But I have waited months for today. Maybe years.”

  “Well, it sounds like you are ready then.”

  Aurora walked into the courtroom as if she were walking through the gates of Hell and Gannon was the Devil sitting in the front of the courtroom. She saw Melih there in the courtroom on her left as she walked in. I will just pretend I didn’t see him and run out of the courtroom when this is all done with. She could tell from her peripheral vision that they were both staring at her. She had a confused look on her face and continued to look down as she walked toward the front of the courtroom. Aurora saw her parents sitting at the front of the courtroom, right behind the tables, where the attorneys and clients would enter and sit. My dad is probably here because my mom forced him to come. Or maybe he actually cares now.

  Aurora thought the benches looked like church pews. She took a seat. She saw Gannon to her right and remembered how weeks leading up to the divorce day, Gannon was messaging and calling her and begging her not to get a divorce. I could have blocked him from contacting me, but I just wanted to torture him. She was shocked to see a grown man act so pathetic when he didn’t get what he wanted. The judge got to the stand and called their case.

  Aurora then looked at Gannon’s side and saw that none of his family or friends were there for him. He was too into himself to ever keep any real friends. Aurora almost felt herself feeling bad for him. Gannon’s family probably thought he was pathetic and a failure as well. His parents didn’t really care much for Gannon since he decided not to attend medical school to “follow his dream as an artist.” She was always above his level but never wanted to admit it to herself because of her pity for him. Aurora had so much passion in her bones; she could never stand still and was always thinking about what she could do next. Gannon tried to trample that part of her but luckily; she got out before it was too late.

  As soon as Gannon saw Melih, Gannon flipped him the middle finger. Melih laughed at that and just looked away, as if Gannon were some garbage he found in the street. Aurora could hear her dad keep saying under his breath and grunting, directed toward Gannon, like a bull ready to hit a matador: “I want to kill that little punk.” Too bad you were like him when I was growing up, Dad.

  Aurora couldn’t remember how many Xanax she had taken beforehand. As soon as the judge walked into the courtroom, everyone in the courtroom rose. T
he judge was gray-haired, tall, and had bad posture. His demeanor was tough. This judge looks intimidating. The judge sat, and the rest of the people in the courtroom sat.

  The judge asked both Aurora and Gannon to state their names and addresses.

  “Which one of you is the petitioner?”

  “I am,” Aurora said and sat up straight and cleared her throat. “I am, your honor.” Aurora looked anxiously as the stenographer typed everything verbatim on her small typewriter.

  “Aurora, were you married to Gannon McMaster on November 6th of 2018,” the judge said, “in Auburn, Alabama?”

  “Yes, your honor.” Aurora’s hands shook and she poured herself a glass of water from the glass pitcher in front of her.

  “Did you live with your spouse following that day, in Madison, Wisconsin?” Aurora choked back a tear and took a drink of water. Why are these questions so hard for me to answer?

  “Yes,” Aurora said. “Yes, your honor.”

  “On October 23rd, did the breakdown of your marriage occur?” A flashback of Shazzy and Gannon on the couch flashed back in her mind and she flinched.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you describe what caused you to file for divorce?” Years of abuse and lies.

  “Ah…” Aurora said. A tear ran down Aurora’s face.

  “Counselor Wulfblitzen, can your client describe the event that led her to divorce?” Aurora looked at Gannon and saw him looking down but smiling, as he knew it tortured her to speak of that night.

  “Your honor, these questions are a bit invasive. As you can see, my client does not f….” Aurora started to shake like a volcano about to erupt.

  “I caught him cheating on me with my friend that night!” People in the courtroom gasped. Aurora said, “That doesn’t even include the years of physical, verbal, and mental abusive I suffered up to that night.” The judge’s face was emotionless.

  “So, is you marriage inevitably broken?” The judge said in a monotone voice.

  “Absolutely. Obviously,” Aurora said.

  “I need a yes or no, Ms. Tousey.”

  “Yes, your honor,” Aurora said. “Yes.”

  Mr. Redding, Gannon’s lawyer, began to speak, and Aurora slouched back in her chair and her brain felt foggy.

  “I found an infidelity clause,” Erik said as Aurora snapped back into reality and sat up straight. “On page 36 in the third paragraph.”

  The judge licked his fingertips to help him flip through the pages.

  “Okay,” The judge said. “Do you have your evidence?”

  “Yes, your honor,” Erik said as he brought up the manila folder and took out the photos of the text messages Gannon had sent Aurora. The judge looked over them.

  “Mr. McMaster?” The judge said.

  “Yes, your honor?”

  “Can you come up here a moment?”

  “Yes, your honor.”

  “Did you send these messages to Ms. Tousey?” Gannon looked back at his lawyer with fright in his eyes.

  “Objection!” Mr. Redding said.

  “On what grounds?” The judge said.

  “I have not seen this evidence before the trial,” Mr. Redding said.

  “Sustained,” the judge said. “I will allow this evidence. Though you may have not have seen this evidence, your client is acting like he has.”

  “Again, Mr. McMaster,” The lawyer said as he cleared his throat and took a drink of water from a glass cup. “I also want to remind you that lying under oath is a federal offense.”

  “Y-y-yes,” Gannon muffled.

  “Excuse me?” The judge said.

  “Yes. Yes, I sent them.” Again, the people in the courtroom gasped.

  “You may be seated,” the judge said.

  “Well, I know that it is not usually enforced, but adultery is illegal in Wisconsin.” Erik said. “It is actually a criminal offense. My client will not press charges if the pre-nup is taken off of the table and not valid. Not to mention, she was under duress.”

  “Counselor Redding, do you have anything to add?” the judge asked. Gannon's lawyer and him were whispering to one another. “Counselor Redding?”

  “No.” Redding gave a stare at Gannon, like he was weak. “No, your honor.”

  “Fine,” the judge said. “I deem this prenuptial agreement invalid.”

  “Yes!” Aurora said out loud as she fist pumped the air.

  She then sat down, and the last thing she remembered was the judge hitting his gavel for the last time. When he hit his gavel to the wood, it sounded like the crack made from a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. It made her jump. She was waiting for the rainbow to come after the storm during court that day, but then she remembered Melih and Gannon were in the same room at once. She could feel blood rushing to her temples and her heart pounding as if it were going to make her chest and head explode.

  Aurora had a few brief words with her lawyer and immediately ran to the nearest bathroom she could find. She ran out of the courtroom door as if she had just escaped from the gates of Hell. She wanted to avoid everyone, and she did. She ran to the last stall. She put her back against the yellow-tiled wall and crouched to the floor and cried. She pulled her knees to her chest and cried like she had never cried before. They were tears of joy and adrenaline. She felt a huge burst of euphoria and newfound freedom run through her veins. She was so happy to finally be free from Gannon. She got up and looked in the mirror and saw mascara streaks dribble down her cheeks from her eyes. “Oh my God. I look like a raccoon.” She then laughed hysterically at herself. She rinsed her face with water.

  She called her mom on the phone. She took some tissue paper to dry her face and wipe the excess mascara off her face.

  “Hey baby girl. Where are you?”

  “I am in the bathroom down the hall,” Aurora said in a quiet voice.

  “You are in where?” Her mom said louder.

  Aurora said with an annoyed, loud voice, “Don’t say it out loud!” She then realized she was being loud, took a deep breath, and quieted her voice. My emotions are all over the place right now. She looked at her hand and tried to steady it, but she couldn’t stop shaking. “Mom, I am hiding in the bathroom. I want to leave, but I don’t want to talk to anyone. Help, me leave. Please. Without anyone seeing me. Please,” Aurora pleaded.

  “Honey, I will be there in a second. Just stay there. I will find a way for us to leave without anyone seeing you.”

  Aurora hated asking people for help, but she felt like she had no other option at that point. She just got a divorce, which was enough for her for the day. She didn’t want to deal with any more drama or confrontation.

  “Aurora, where are you?” Her mom Elizabeth whispered loudly.

  “I am in the last stall.”

  “You need to hurry up, kiddo. You have a dark-haired man out there asking for you. He is pretty handsome.”

  “Melih?”

  “What?”

  “No one. It is nothing. Never mind.”

  “I am just saying, I wouldn’t kick him out of my bed for eating crackers.” Gross!

  “Mom!”

  “Sorry. Is there something you want to tell me now?”

  “No! Not now,” Aurora said frantically. “I will tell you when I am out of here.”

  Aurora’s mom peeked her head out of the door, looking both ways as if she were on a top-secret mission or about to walk across a very busy highway.

  “I feel like a sleuth. How exciting!” Her mom whispered.

  She then popped her head back in the bathroom. “The coast is clear,” her mom, Elizabeth, said. “Go left and run straight out the exit entrance. Your father and I will meet you at your new place. Then we can go get lunch.” The last thing I can think about is lunch…

  Aurora quickly got out of the bathroom and went left. She ran down the hallway, almost tripping over her own feet. She then ran down to her car. Started the engine and peeled out of there as fast as she could. She went home and waited for her par
ents to arrive. As soon as she got home, she went straight to her bed and fell on it like she was falling on a cloud.

  She made the sound, aaaahhh with relief. “This is it!” Aurora said while yelling into her big fluffy white comforter. “This is freedom!”

  Chapter 28

  Though she had not had a drink in a while, she was craving a glass of celebratory champagne. You do not need a drink to reward yourself with. Besides, it will make you feel worse afterwards or you will do something that you will regret later on. You are not in college anymore. It was the norm to drink in Wisconsin, for all things in your life, literally everything. No one ever made excuses or needed a reason to drink, but people who didn’t drink were expected to have a reason why they were not drinking. Aurora still chose not to drink. She just waited for her family while she sat in solitude.

  While Aurora was lying on the bed on her belly, she contemplated her next move in life, with her face in her bed. She was proud to be divorced from Gannon. Though the way Aurora was raised, it was Taboo to tell anyone if you were divorced. I really don’t want to talk about divorce, but how else can I protect others from people like Gannon?

  Aurora walked downstairs to make herself a cup of coffee, wondering why her parents were taking so long. She blew on her coffee to cool it down. She looked out of her kitchen window and looked at the lake. She took a sip of her coffee. I cannot believe I am this young and have gone through so much already. Maybe I should write a book about divorce since I have the divorce fresh in my head. Why not just start now...

  She walked up the stairs and sat her coffee on her desk next to the right of her computer mouth and Parker pen. She sat down and tied her hair in a bun on the top of her head. She looked out the window and could see trees that were bare of leaves but lightly dusted with snow. I am sure this view is beautiful in the fall, too… Too bad I won’t be around to see it. One tear fell down her face and she wiped it away with her sleeve.

  Without thinking for another second, she pulled a legal pad from her desk drawer and put the Parker pen in her hand. She heard people calling and messaging her phone. She chose to ignore it because she wanted to skip talking to anyone at that moment. She knew if she thought about it too much, or any longer, she would never write that book. She put the pen to the paper, took a deep breath, and started to write her outline. She wrote a title on the top of the legal pad: How I Survived an Abusive Marriage.