朱婉婧

1

The door opened. Dino came back. It was just 5 p.m.， too early. I sat still near the window， holding Marys sweater and looking out. Leaves were blown down by the light breeze. The ground was covered by red and yellow leaves. Unfortunately， Dinos black car crushed them. Half an hour later， Mary would reach home， and we could have a happy dinner.

The footfall was nearer and clearer. Dino burst into our living room. Just in a second， he glanced at me and walked into our bedroom. “Hey， where is my shirt？” he called.

I stood up， walked toward the room and opened the wardrobe. “Here.”

Water was flowing. I took the paper in the drawer from my dressing table.

2

Before Dino and I got married， I knew about Susan and Dino. I still married him. Dino promised me that he had broken up with Susan. One year later， Dino fathered a daughter. Until Mary was 5 years old， Dino and I didnt have fixed jobs. Fortunately， everything went well. Dino loved to play with Mary. I loved staying at home， making food for them and cared for Mary when Dino was out to drink with his young brother， Jino， or had party with his friends.

Mary and Jinos daughter—Lorry， were old enough to go to school. Considering that my savings was running out， I decided to work as a sales rep with Cady， Jinos wife. At that time， Dino told me he also had found a job as a car instructor.

One night， Dino took Mary and me to a pub. Six young ladies and two men， who I knew were Dinos colleagues， were drinking and laughing. Two girls made room， and Dino directly sat down between them， put one arm around the right girl and smiled to the left one. “Sorry， Im late.”

Back home， I said to Dino， “Dino， you were too intimate with those girls， Youd better not next time. After all， Mary was young.”

“Ah！ It doesnt matter. They are just my trainees. Just for fun.”

3

That day， Mary was 12 years old. Dino was not at home because he was busy with his work. Mary said， “Mum， I dont want them.”

“Why？They are your best friends.”

“Every time they came to our house， Dad always played with them， but scolded me. Now Dad doesnt love me. He is not like my old father.”

“Little girl， he is your father. Of course， he loves you best.”

“Mum， dont cheat me. Last month I heard Dad argued with you. Dad hit you， right？”

“Nothing serious.”

I touched Marys head and forced a smile. I got a feeling that Mary had knew something.

4

Dino went out of bathroom， walked to the coach and sat down. I put the paper in front of him and passed him a gel pen. “Everything has already been prepared. So sign it.”

He looked at it. Unsurprisingly， he tore it up.

“What do you want？”

“I didnt want anything.”

“But we had a deal before.” I slapped him.

Dino grabbed a handful of my hair and kicked me. He grasped my collar and threw me into the corner. I snarled， “Enough.”

Jino and Cady burst in. Jino shouted， “Dino， stop.” and dragged him out. Cady helped me stand up. Mary was standing at the door. She rushed to hug me， “Mum， I just want you.”

Cady said， “Mary， dont cry. Today is your 15-year-old birthday. We have prepared many delicious food. Lorry is waiting for you enjoy dinner.”

The engine was running. Through the window， it was easy to see that dust rose along the road. “Yeah！ Mum， he had gone.” Marys eyes were glittering. I smiled back.

The day was breaking. Outside the window， the wind blew down the last leaf. Holding Mary in my arms， I took out the divorce settlement and indictment out of cabinet beside the bed. One more time， I want it just one more time.