Silence filled the air for a minute.
"Dagny,"
Charles said, leaning back,
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"I do."
"Divorce is not something you can just bring up."
"I know."
The silence returned.
Charles rubbed his eyebrows in the middle of the morning, his voice helpless.
"Maybe I didn't sound too good earlier, but I just met with Betty, and you want to divorce me over that?"
I bit my lip, feeling he missed the point.
"If I wanted to cheat, I wouldn't have done it this way. You know how I do things. We've been married for five years; you should understand."
Yes, I do understand him.
He always does things perfectly, and he always plans things carefully to ensure success.
But does he understand me?
Has he ever loved me?
After seeing the video tonight, I felt the same inferiority I felt when I faced Betty as a student.
And the truth is clear: he will never see me when Betty is around.
But it's ridiculous to dwell on love or lack of love as an adult.
"We're incompatible after so many years of marriage, and you deserve a better choice."
"Where are we incompatible?"
He laughed bitterly and reached for me.
"You've been doing fine for five years..."
"But I don't want to keep doing it..."
I dodged his hand and moved away.
His hand hung in the air.
"I've already prepared the divorce papers..."
"Dagny,"
he cut me off,
"I explained about Betty and I promised you I won't see her again. What else do you want?"
He said sternly,
"If you're going to make a fuss about what happened tonight, then that's unreasonable."
He silenced my words.
"Fine."
It seemed we couldn't talk anymore tonight.
He waited a while, then softened his tone and caressed my hair.
"Don't be rash, okay?"
Then he got up and went to take a shower.
I watched his back and whispered,
"I had clam chowder tonight."
He stopped walking. That is my favorite dish.