After 50 years of marriage, an old woman hurriedly asks for her husband’s divorce. She eventually gets a letter that contains information she hasn’t heard in fifty years.
Rose was done. She was 75 years old and had been in a committed marriage for almost 50 years to Charles.
Although Charles was ten years her senior, they had been together since their undergraduate years, thus they had grown up together. They didn’t think they would ever part, and neither did anyone else.
The couple had reared two lovely children who later started their own households. Rose felt suffocated in spite of their vibrant married life. She felt that she had not been given the opportunity to fully experience life, and her actions toward Charles reflected those sentiments.
When she began to pick fights and have tantrums, he became perplexed because he loved her unconditionally and was always looking out for her. He chose to talk to her about it in the hopes of burying the hatchet since he could feel she was turning away from him. He happened to walk in on her grumbling to herself that day.
He inquired, “What’s the matter, honey?” “You’re talking to yourself again.”
She angrily said, “And it’s all thanks to you, Charles.” “You’re slowly driving me insane.”
“Come now Rose, don’t say things like that to me, they break my heart.”
Rose shot out, “You’re always playing the victim,” and walked out of the room, leaving him to figure out what she meant.
The arguments were so bad that Rose eventually asked for a divorce, and Charles did not object. Given their senior age, the emotional upheaval was not healthy for them.
Upon learning of their scheme, Mr. Frank Evans, their attorney, attempted to dissuade them from it, since he believed that they would make a fantastic team.
Rose would not change her mind, though, and Charles agreed to the divorce because he did not want to be the cause of Rose’s death.
Frank proposed to take them to their favorite restaurant for dinner the day they signed the contracts. He asked, “What could it hurt?”
Although Rose was a little hesitant, Charles accepted right away.
He replied, “Frank, we wouldn’t mind.” “We’re parting ways amicably, this could be our last supper.”
After a while Rose gave in, and they went to the restaurant. When Frank arrived, he paid for his meals and told the elderly couple that he would also pay for theirs.
Charles took over right away as the waiter came to take their orders. Because of his ex-wife, he asked to have the light around their booth turned down and ordered a salad for her while he ordered steak.
Rose erupted within, furious that Charles had ordered her meal as if she wasn’t there and wasn’t capable of making her own selections. She became even upset when she heard other customers surrounding their booth complaining about the dim lighting.
Being the focus of attention did not sit well with the shy woman that she was. However, she snapped at Charles out of rage, leaving him and Frank to stare after her receding figure.
“Women, am I correct?” Frank asked, his eyes knowing.
Charles said, “Tell me about it,” with a dejected smile.
Rose had left the house and several of her possessions were missing when he got back. He was devastated, primarily because he was unsure of what had changed in her.
They both had restless nights that night. Later, after he had given up on sleep, Charles resolved to write a letter to his ex-wife in an effort to salvage his marriage.
He composed the letter with all of his feelings, crying all the while since he knew that life would not be the same without his beloved Rose.
He discovered in the morning that he had no idea where she had gone and hence could not mail the letter. He placed it on the mantelpiece and noticed some medicines that Rose needed to take daily due to her illness.
He picked up his phone to give her a call even though he knew she would need it because she had forgotten it. She didn’t answer his calls since she thought he was trying to get her to come back to him.
She thought to herself, “He barely knows me, even after all these years together raising kids,” as the phone rang. He only tries to control me, and I’m over it. I’ll live my life and use my freedom to do whatever I want.
The calls were unanswered, and Charles became enraged. That, plus his anxiety for her life, was too much for his frail heart, and he began to have heart attack symptoms.
He instantly called for help, but before it could arrive, he passed out. Frank picked up the phone to tell Rose that the cops had informed him.
Her heart stumbled upon hearing the news. Was her Charles in the hospital, down below? She realized how much she still loved him when she realized she could not handle the notion of losing him.
When she went to their residence to get something to give him, she discovered the note. As she read that, her heart ached.
It started, “Dear Rose.” “First and foremost, I want you to know that I have loved you and will continue to love you until the day I die. I’m not sure why you chose to cut off contact with me, but I wish you would reconsider since I can’t fathom being apart from you.”
Rose continued to read and began to cry.
“I apologize for what transpired in the eatery. As always, all I was trying to do was watch out for you. I requested that the lights be muted because I know you detest bright lights because they create eye strain. I ordered you a salad because I know you have health concerns. I apologize for straying from my commitments, and if you come back to me, I’ll try harder.”
Rose determined to be a better wife to her husband after reading the rest of the letter, which made her realize how mistaken she had been.
She ran to the hospital and met him there, pleading for the divorce to be thrown out. Suddenly, she realized how much he cared for her, and she resolved to repay him every day until she was unable to breathe.