She was holding in a sob. “I feel the same way.”
How devastating this was. We had this great, undying love that consistently chose to look past the worst of each other’s faults, no matter the circumstance, and even so, we hadn’t been able to make this work.
Quietly, she reached out to grasp my hand as she whispered, “Goodbye.”
The very realms tore in two as I hushed, “Goodbye.”
I had to leave now or I’d break down in front of her, and she didn’t need to remember that for the rest of her life. I managed to get away, my fingers trailing out of hers as I nearly sprinted for the door. As I shut the door behind me, I heard Ava give a lament of despair.
I was several halls away from my quarters before I couldn’t take it anymore. I leaned against the wall, sinking onto my knees as my hands flattened against the stone floor, head hung in defeat as I began to weep.
So this was how our story ended. There were no more roads to take except the one that Ava had given me. Though my knees buckled, I didn’t allow myself to cower, but rose to my full height like the man she’d molded me into.
This was Ava’s decision. I needed to trust she would do the right thing not only for us, but for the world. I’d failed to believe in her for such a long time, but I wouldn’t anymore. Whatever Ava wanted— to co-parent, to get back together, or to leave our family behind entirely to go our separate ways, I would stand behind. Ex-husband or not, I would make the decision to support whatever choices she made without running from the consequences. I didn’t give her a choice when I broke our bond, but I had to give her a choice now.
My marriage vows were broken, but I was still going to hold myself to them. I’d promised to love, cherish and protect her. The greatest offering of love I could give Ava was allowing her to move on without me. If she chose to come back to me, I would welcome her with open arms. But if she continued to stay away, I would accept her choice with all the grace I could manage.
She’d given me full custody of Casey, but I didn’t believe she’d stick to that choice. I knew her, and she’d find her way back to us when she was ready. I just didn’t get to dictate the terms of that decision.
Ava had asked me to sign those papers and set her free, so I did. But that didn’t mean I was giving up on her. She didn’t think there was any way for us to be together again, even though she wanted it.
But Ava always got what she wanted in the end, no matter what happened. And giving her whatever she desired was my greatest purpose in life. There didn’t seem to be a path forward for us, yet Ava worked miracles every day, even without magic. I couldn’t see the future or know what was ahead, but I knew love would find a way.
Love was blind. Ava had seen the worst in me time and again, but had chosen to believe in the best. She continued to love me despite everything I’d ever done wrong, all the bad choices I’d made and the things I’d done to hurt people. She overlooked my faults and loved me unconditionally, no matter what happened or what I did. It was time for me to do the same for her, with no expectations of what I would receive in return.
I had to hope that everything would be all right in the end. I trusted her more than I trusted anyone else, and I believed in her more than I’d ever believed in anything before. This wasn’t about our relationship anymore. It wasn’t even about our family. This was about her, and everything she was destined to be. So I’d follow her blindly toward her destiny, because wherever Ava ended up, it would be the right place for us both.
My faith in her had no boundaries. She could call me into the depths of the darkest storm, and still, I would follow. Whatever she asked me to do, I’d perform eagerly, and whatever she asked me to let go of, I would. I was sanctified and washed clean by her love, and because she had blessed me with such a gift, I’d been saved, redeemed into a new person.
She forgave me. For everything, all that I’d done, and she didn’t hold anything against me. To show her that I appreciated her forgiveness, I needed to become a better man. Having her forgiveness helped me to forgive myself. During the coup, I put my wants above hers, and disregarded her love in selfish pursuit of what I thought was best, and during this divorce process, all I’d thought of was how miserable I felt without considering how deeply she had to be suffering.
I wouldn’t be that villain anymore. I had to put her needs before mine, and right now, she needed to be apart from me. That was fine. I would be here for anything she asked.
She wasn’t mine anymore, but I was hers. No matter what she asked of me, I’d be here to serve, until the end of time.
Right now, she’d asked me to step into the role of Casey’s parent… his only parent. My most important mission was to be the best father I could be, bestowed upon me by the woman I worshiped above all others.
This was my divine purpose. Forget all the gods in all the realms. Ava was my goddess now, and I would not fail her.
I started toward the hospital. I had to be there for Casey. That’s what divorced parents needed to do. Turn toward their kids. I guessed when Casey came home, it would just be the two of us.
I’d worried about being alone after Ava left me, but I didn’t need to. I’d never be alone, because I had my son.
Someone stopped me on the way to the NICU, and I was familiar enough with his hand on my arm to know it was Marcus. “There you are. I just wanted to let you know that we had some people sneak through the portal when we got back from the battle. Mission members, probably. We’ve been looking, but we can’t find them— Charlie, are you okay?”
He had to notice how messed up I looked. Emptiness was all I was now. “We signed the papers.”
“Oh, no.” Marcus sounded truly heartbroken. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah.” I nodded, and suddenly, I was crying all over again. “It’s terrible.”
“It is.” Marcus reached out to hug me, rubbing my back. I felt really guilty. I hadn’t comforted him like this after his bond with Kallie had been broken, even though he hadn’t let me. Now he was trying to help me without asking for anything in return. “I wish you guys could’ve worked it out.”
“Me, too.” I wasn’t able to tell him about what Casey had foreseen. I would, eventually, but I couldn’t bear going over it again. Another day, maybe, when it didn’t hurt this much.
It never would. I stepped away and rubbed my eyes. “Anyway. It’s done, and she asked me to take custody of Casey.”
“I understand. Do you guys need anything from us?”
