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“This is why I like to be at home with you, Faith.”
“You can’t be with me all the time. You need time to yourself. I’m fine, Sincere.”
He heard her, but that didn’t stop the guilt that was filling him. All he could think about was something worse happening while he was out making a new friend. It wasn’t worth it. Period.
“Yeah, well, I’m about to head home, so I’ll be there when you get there.”
“Honey…”
“I’ll see you when you get home, Faith.”
She sighed. “Alright.”
After disconnecting the call, Sincere started his car and headed out of his parking space. The chime signaled he had a text, and he didn’t have to look to know who it was. Still, he did, and cursed under his breath at the sight of Sophia’s text asking him if everything was okay. He really didn’t want to answer, but since he didn’t want her to worry, he told her that it was before putting his phone on Do Not Disturb. For the rest of the night, his attention would be solely on his wife.
11
Sincere
Sincere,
Don’t be mad,but I’ve decided to leave. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you would try to get me to stay. The cancer has spread and it will kill me faster to continue with treatment than if I stopped. I don’t want you to see me deteriorate, and I don’t want to make you suffer, so I’ve left to avoid you having to watch me die.
I know you may not understand or respect my choice now, but trust me, this is for the best. We’ve had such a good life together, and I want you to remember me in that way… not who I will become because of my sickness.
Please don’t try to find me. You will not be able to change my mind.
When I’m gone, you will be notified.
Please know that I’m doing this because I love you, and I want to do what’s best for the both of us. I love you more than those words can ever say. Even though I’m not exactly sure why God gave me this war, I can’t express how much peace and comfort I’ve felt fighting this last battle with you.
Remember what you promised to do… love and live without me. Please baby, love and live without me. I love you so much, Sincere. Forever and always…
Faith
As Sincere tracedthe dried-up marks of her tears on the letter, he released his own. This was the first day that he’d gone to work since her trip to the emergency room, and this letter was what he’d come home to. Refusing to believe she was really gone, he went to the closet… finding her side bare. She’d taken one of their wedding pictures off the dresser but left the rest. All of her toiletries were gone except his favorite perfume. Attached to it was a note that said it was for him to spray her pillow with until he was ready to release her.
Rushing back into the bedroom, Sincere grabbed his phone and dialed her number. It was disconnected, forcing him to frantically go from one of her social media sites to the other, all of which had been deactivated.
The sound of his phone ringing startled him, but he quickly answered at the sight of Keisha’s name.
“Keesh,” he answered, sitting on the bed weakly at the sound of her cries.
“She’s gone, Sincere,” she yelled. “Why would she just leave like that?”
Sincere had no answer as his grip on the phone loosened. When it dropped out of his hand, he fell back onto the bed, and sobbed.
12
“Thank you for doing this,” Hope, Faith’s mother, spoke.
Neither Faith’s mother nor father knew where she was, but they were aware of her plan to leave. The next morning, divorce papers were delivered. Sincere ignored them for a week straight, but her parents were adamant about him signing them to give Faith peace. He did, with the condition that she call to let him hear her voice and know that she was okay.
Truthfully, Sincere had been on autopilot for the past week. He’d been going to work and coming home, not eating or talking to anyone… not even Brandon or Keisha. While he wouldn’t say that he was numb to his wife’s choice, he hadn’t fully processed it yet. A part of him felt like if he did, it would make it real, and he would have to accept that she would never come back to him again.
Sincere’s head shook as he squeezed the back of his neck. Leg bouncing under the table, he stared at the last line that he would have to sign… and the only thing motivating him to do so was knowing that he would hear Faith’s voice soon after.
“How could you let her do this?” he asked, not to her mother or father in particular.
