Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Day one, I walked into Sergeant Major Harris’s office alone,
“This is Jake’s and my divorce application.”
“I’d appreciate it if Command could approve it quickly.”
Sergeant Major Harris paused mid sip from his mug, then picked up the papers for a closer look.
When he saw both our signatures, he let out a heavy sigh.
“You and Jake always seemed solid… How’d it come to this?”
Yeah… how did we get here?
Jake and I were set up by friends.
He was a promising Army captain, I was the sweet small–town elementary school teacher.
People used to say we were a perfect match.
But ever since Jessica came back, all I heard was:
“Captain Jake really treats Jessica like a queen.”
I shook the thoughts away and gave Sergeant Major Harris a steady answer:
“Sir, you can’t force feelings. We just want to part ways peacefully.”
He didn’t argue. Just slipped the application into his desk drawer.
“Give it a couple days, then come pick it up.”
After I left, I headed to Walmart.
As I walked past the skincare aisle, there it was–La Mer on the shelf.
$390 for one jar.
Five years of marriage, and I never splurged on it once.
I stared at it for a second too long.
Noticing my gaze, the cashier–Karen, with her loud laugh–grinned and said,
“I saw Captain Jake buy five or six of those just last week.”
“Dang, he burnin‘ through ‘em fast!”
“Emily, that man really treats you right!”
My grip on the shopping basket tightened.
I hadn’t been home for a few days.
And Jake had never once bought me La Mer.
That scent I smelled on his jacket last night-
It wasn’t mine.
He bought it for Jessica.
23:35
I cooked, cleaned, and ran our home for five years, and never got so much as a travel sized hottle.
Jessica shows up, and suddenly it’s five jars without blinking
I didn’t know if I felt more angry or just… small.
Looking Karen in the eye, I forced a smile.
“Actually, I’ll take the most expensive one. I’m buying it for myself.”
Day five.
First stop, Sergeant Major Harris’s office.
He handed me the signed, approved divorce papers.
Next stop. the school district office. I handed in my resignation.
The semester hadn’t started yet, so most of the staff weren’t around.
I headed to my desk to start packing.
But when I got there, the entire surface was covered in stuff that wasn’t mine.
Papers, mugs, even makeup–completely taking over the desk.
My laptop was buried underneath it all.
When I pulled it out, the cover was crushed, creased beyond repair.
The teacher at the next desk leaned over and whispered,
“All that stuff? Jessica’s.”
“While you were gone, Captain Jake brought it over himself.”
“Said no point letting the space go to waste.”
Jessica.
She’d moved back to town a month ago after her divorce,
Now working as a substitute teacher–barely even on staff.
I let out a short, bitter laugh and started moving her things to the floor.
Almost done packing when I heard a gasp behind me.
Jessica stood in the doorway, and of course-
Jake was right behind her.
“Jake, look.”
“Someone just threw all my stuff on the ground!”
Jake stepped forward, voice already tight with frustration.
“Emily, it’s just a few things. Why are you being so petty?”
Jessica tugged at his sleeve with that wide–eyed, innocent act.
“I’m sorry, Emily… I thought since you weren’t using the desk, I’d just borrow it for a bit.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you…. I didn’t think you’d toss my things like that….”
23:35
Goodbye, Captain: I Left the Army Wife Life–And Took His Reputation With Me
1.1%
Chapter 2
Then she bent as if to bow.
Jake immediately stopped her, placing a hand on her back.
His voice, cold as steel:
“Emily, you’re taking this too far.”
“Jessica didn’t mean anything by it. Just let it go.”
How many times had he defended her like this?
I couldn’t even count anymore.
I grabbed my box and walked straight out.
But as I passed Jessica, she stuck out her foot-
And I tripped hard.
Jake’s eyes widened and he reached for me, but he was too late.
I hit the floor.
My box flew open, papers and personal stuff spilling everywhere.
My wrist scraped against the tile, bleeding.
Jake rushed over, bent down, and grabbed a couple sheets.
Then he froze.
“Your resignation letter?” he asked.
“… And this one’s…”
