- London, England -
Penelope turns and looks down at her hands, laid out on the table in front of her. They're shaking uncontrollably, and her right hand is still missing the glove. She reaches over and undoes her left glove latch and removes it, revealing a wedding band adorning her ring finger. Worn and aged with years passed, long vacant of any sparkle, it rests on her skin like a forgotten relic of something she'd rather not acknowledge. Something she's refused to acknowledge for as long as she possibly could.
You should have just told him the truth.
* * *
Ardell is dead on his feet as he walks through the crowd, slumped and depressed. *Maybe you could check on the train? But then if she got off, you'll miss her leaving. Fuck, you've probably already missed her leaving. You--
Police rush past him, heading in the direction of the train. He doesn't notice.
"Train 1994 to Berlin will be departing in 20 minutes." an announcer's voice sounds over the intercom, "Please have your bags and tickets ready--" He doesn't notice that, either.
He slows to a stop and looks ahead as he comes to the communications booth. All of the charging ports are taken by people charging phones and laptops. Still can't get a charge. 12 hours of train travel and I still couldn't outrun my bad luck.
He purses his lips, then notices something. A single, unoccupied payphone.
He steps up to it and lifts the receiver, reaching into his pocket amongst the lint and his Business Select card. His fingers push past the memory and find a few coins floating around. He drops them into the receptacle and dials a number. It rings for a moment.
"Hello?" a familiar voice says over the phone, and Ardell's face remains unchanged.
"Emma, it's Ardell. I've just gotten off the train. I'm here in London, and--"
"I don't want to see you, Ardell. I tried to tell you earlier--"
"Emma." but his voice is unheard.
"--you can't talk me out of it this time, okay? I'm--"
"Emma." again he tries.
"What is it, Ardell? What?" her breathing is angry and on edge.
Ardell doesn't need even a moment to think. "I want the divorce."
There's silence on the other end of the phone. Then, finally, she speaks. "You do?"
"Yeah. I've done a lot of thinking on the journey here, and... I think it would be best. For not only you and me, but for Jodie."
More silence. The breathing on the other end has quieted down. For a moment, Ardell ponders if she's still there. Then he realizes he wouldn't care if she wasn't.
"Wouldn't you agree?" he says finally, trying to move the conversation along.
"Yeah. Yeah, I just... Is everything okay? Why are you..." her voice trails into nothing, her question rooted in nosiness and confusion rather than concern. And though Ardell knows this, it doesn't hurt anymore.
He searches for the right answer. It doesn't take him long to find it.
"Let's just say I realized what I should have realized a long time ago."
* * *
YOU ARE READING
Sidetracked
General FictionArdell is a well-paid representative of an advertising firm, constantly traveling all over Europe to establish connections and close sales, much to the chagrin of his wife. Unhappy and unfulfilled, his life is thrown into an uproar when he receives...
