Chapter 6 – The Breaking Point

Elena’s life was now full of silence. She stopped waiting for love. She only waited for peace. Every day she tried to stay strong, but her heart was slowly giving up. Jason’s behavior had become worse than ever. He didn’t care what she felt. He came home late, drunk, and angry for no reason.

One evening he came home shouting. “Why is my shirt not ready?” he asked. She said quietly, “You didn’t tell me which one.” He threw the shirt on the floor and said, “You never understand anything.” She looked at him with tired eyes and said, “I understand everything. You just don’t care anymore.” He walked away without a word. She sat down and cried. She said softly, “I don’t know how long I can live like this.”

A few days later, Jason brought his friends again. This time there were two women with them. He told Elena, “Serve drinks for everyone.” She said, “It’s already late. Can we talk tomorrow?” He shouted, “Do what I say!” She looked at the floor and did what he wanted. One of the women smiled and said, “Your wife is quiet.” Jason replied, “She is boring.” Elena felt her heart break again. She went to her room and cried till her voice disappeared.

That night, when everyone left, she tried to speak. “Jason, please stop this. You’re hurting me.” He said coldly, “Stop acting like a saint.” She said in a low voice, “You don’t see my pain.” He laughed and said, “Pain? You live like a queen. What pain?” Then he walked away. She stood there, frozen. She whispered, “I never wanted to be a queen. I only wanted love.”

Next morning she felt weak but still cooked for him. When he came to the table, he said, “I’m not hungry.” She said softly, “You never eat what I make.” He looked angry again and said, “Stop this drama.” She said calmly, “It’s not drama. It’s my heart breaking.” He didn’t listen.

One night she found him talking on the phone with someone. He was smiling. She said, “Who is that?” He said, “It’s my friend.” She said, “A woman?” He looked at her and said, “So what if it is?” Her eyes filled with tears. She said, “Jason, please don’t do this to me.” He replied coldly, “Then stop checking my phone.” She said softly, “I just wanted to feel safe.” He said, “You never will.” That was the first time she truly felt her world falling apart.

Later that week, he told her not to sleep in their room. He said, “I need space.” She asked, “What did I do wrong?” He said, “Everything.” That night she slept on the floor, holding her pillow. She whispered, “God, I have no one to talk to except You.”

The next morning, she woke up with a headache and pain in her chest. She tried to stand, but her body was shaking. When Jason saw her, he said, “Don’t act sick now.” She said weakly, “I’m not acting.” He didn’t believe her. She fell on the floor and fainted.

When she opened her eyes, she was in the hospital. Her mother was crying beside her. Her father was holding her hand and saying, “You are safe now.” She said softly, “Dad, I can’t go back there.” He looked at her with tears in his eyes and said, “You don’t have to.” Her mother said, “You gave your best, my child. Now think about yourself.”

Jason didn’t come to the hospital. He didn’t even call. That silence gave Elena her answer. When she went home with her parents, she packed her things quietly. She looked around once and said, “I tried everything. I failed, but I tried with all my heart.”

A few days later, she signed the divorce papers. Her hands were shaking. Her father said softly, “You’re free now.” She said, “Yes, Dad, but it doesn’t feel like freedom yet.” He said, “It will, soon.” She smiled sadly.

After the divorce, Jason didn’t care. He told his friends, “She was too emotional.” But when he came home and saw her empty side of the bed, he felt strange. For the first time, he felt alone.

Elena, on the other side, sat with her mother and said, “I did everything I could.” Her mother held her hand and said, “Sometimes doing your best is not enough when the other person doesn’t want to change.” Elena nodded slowly. She said, “I still wish peace for him.”

That night she looked at her wedding ring one last time. She said softly, “Goodbye, Jason. You were my prayer once, but now you’re my lesson.” She placed the ring in a small box and closed it.

From that day, she decided she would live for herself. No more tears, no more waiting. Her heart was tired but free. She said quietly, “I will find my peace again.” And for the first time in a long time, she smiled. It was a small smile, but it was real.