Chapter 33: Small Steps Forward
Lara drove back to her condo and parked in her usual spot.
She stepped out of the car, opened the trunk, and carefully stacked the two boxes of groceries together. She placed the brown McDonald's takeout bag on top of them, balancing everything in her arms. It took effort, but she managed to carry everything toward the elevator in one trip, her arms trembling slightly from the weight.
By the time she reached her floor, she was sweating lightly and breathless. She set the boxes down in front of her unit, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. The smell of lemon-scented polish still lingered from the last cleaning, welcoming her in. She hauled everything into the kitchen, placing them on the quartz countertop.
She eyed the boxes, planning to start organizing them but her stomach growled in protest.
"Guess I'll deal with you later," she muttered to the boxes, then grabbed the brown McDonald's takeout bag and headed to the living room.
Sinking into the plush cream couch, she placed the bag on the white marble coffee table and began unpacking her food, laying it all out in front of her like a mini feast—chicken, rice, burger, fries, nuggets, two drinks. A small smile tugged at her lips at the sight of it all. It was probably enough for two people. Maybe even three. But for today, it was all hers.
She turned on the television, and scrolled through Netflix until she landed on a newly released action-comedy. Something light. Something that wouldn't pull her emotions in too deep.
As the opening credits rolled, she curled her legs under her on the couch and started eating, her eyes flickering between the screen and her food.
And for the first time in what felt like days, she let herself relax.
She ate everything slowly, savoring every bite. When she finished, she leaned back against the couch, holding the Mango Passion Fizz in her hand as the movie played on.
Once the closing credits rolled, she gathered the wrappers, napkins, empty cups and containers and threw them away. Then she returned to the kitchen to tackle the boxes she left behind.
She took her time organizing—arranging snacks like chips, cookies, and biscuits on the upper shelves. Canned goods, pasta, and noodles followed. She placed the frozen meats and processed food in the freezer, then washed the fruits and vegetables, placing them neatly into labeled containers before sliding them into the fridge along with drinks, eggs, and chocolate bars—all sorted by category. Cleaning supplies and toiletries found their place under the sink and in the cabinets below.
By the time she finished, the place felt a little more like home.
She wiped her hands with a kitchen towel, then returned to the living room. Sitting back on the couch, she pulled out her phone and stared at it for a moment. Then she opened her contacts.
Her finger hovered over the name Atty. Francesca Mendez.
With a deep breath, she tapped the it.
It rang once. Twice.
Then—
["Hello? Lara?"] Atty. Mendez's voice came through, warm and calm as ever.
"Hi, Atty. Mendez," Lara said softly. "How are you?"
["I'm good,"] Atty. Mendez said, her tone softening. ["How about you? Is everything alright?"]
Lara paused for moment. "Yes. I mean… no." she sighed, curling her legs up on the couch. "But that's not why I'm calling."
["I'm listening,"] Atty. Mendez said gently.
"I want to proceed with the annulment."
A brief silence filled the line. ["I see,"] Atty. Mendez said, her voice even. ["Are you sure about this?"]
"I'm sure," Lara replied, her voice steady even as her chest felt tight. "Can you draft the petition? I was thinking… maybe we can file it under psychological incapacity? Will it be possible?"
There was a rustle of paper on the other end. ["We can, yes,"] Atty. Mendez said. ["But just so I understand—why psychological incapacity?"]
Lara hesitated, her fingers tightening around her phone. Her voice dropped. "Because… we didn't consummate the marriage. There's never been intimacy. And we… we never had any emotional connection either."
There was a beat of silence.
["I understand,"] Atty. Mendez said finally, her tone quiet but professional. ["We can file under psychological incapacity, specifically, mutual inability to establish intimacy or emotional commitment. It's a valid ground. Do you want to come in and discuss the details?"]
Lara quickly shake her head, even if she knew Atty. Mendez couldn't see her. "Can we do it over the phone for now? I just… I don't think I'm ready to talk about it face-to-face. But I need you to start the process. I'll sign whatever's needed when it's time."
["That's completely fine,"] Atty. Mendez said without hesitation. ["I'll send you a checklist and a few questions via email. Once I've drafted the petition, you'll need to come in to sign the affidavit in person so we can have it notarized. After that, I'll file it in court."]
"Okay. That's fine," Lara said softly. "Thank you."
Lara paused for a brief second, then she asked the one thing she was still uncertain about. "Do I need to tell him?"
["No,"] Atty. Mendez replied gently. ["Once we file the case, the court will send him a summons. If he doesn't contest it, this can go through quickly, maybe within a year or two. But don't worry, Lara. I'll make sure to get this over within less than a year. Trust me."]
Lara closed her eyes. A strange mix of sadness and relief washed over her.
"Alright," she said. "Thank you, Attorney."
["It's nothing,"] Atty. Mendez replied warmly. ["Honestly, Lara… I'm proud of you. I know how hard this must be, but I'm glad you've finally found the courage. You deserve to be free. And be happy."]
Those words hit home. Harder than Lara expected.
Atty. Mendez—no, Francesca had seen the cracks beneath the surface long before anyone else. She was more than her lawyer, she was also a close friend, and the only one who truly knew the truth of her marriage.
"Thank you, Chesca. Really." she said softly, her voice thick with emotion.
["You know you're always welcome, Lara. Just don't stress yourself over him anymore and start taking care of yourself. I'll start working on the petition right away,"] Atty. Mendez promised. ["We'll get through this, okay?"]
Lara smiled faintly. "Okay,"
They said their goodbyes, and the call ended.
Lara sat there in the quiet, phone still in hand.
It was done. She did it.
She had finally taken the first step.
And although her heart still ached, she knew it's the right kind of pain.
⫘⫘⫘
Sunday came quietly.
A soft rain tapped against the windows that morning, the sky gray and overcast. A perfect excuse to stay in. And Lara did.
She spent the entire day cooped in the comfort of her space. She finished an entire novel curled up on the couch, laughed softly at a feel-good rom-com on Netflix, and even dusted off her baking tools to make banana muffins, letting the sweet scent of sugar and vanilla fill the kitchen like a warm hug.
By evening, she sat in the study room, her laptop open as she worked on her lesson plans for the week. The quiet hum of the city beyond the glass walls offered a sense of peace.
She tried, genuinely tried, not to think about Lucas.
And yet, no matter how much she tried to fill her day, the ache in her chest lingered. It wasn't as sharp as before, just a dull throb. Like a bruise healing under the skin.
She missed him. Or maybe not him, but the hope she once clung to.
After all, moving on wasn't as easy as telling herself to let go. She admit to that.
Still, she wouldn't let grief consume her. No. This pain won't be the end of her.
Instead, she welcomed it. Sat with it. Learned from it.
Pain, after all, was a great teacher. The kind that didn't sugarcoat anything but always left you stronger if you were willing to face it head-on.
And maybe one day, Lara believed, she would look back at this chapter of her life without tears. Without anger. Maybe even without any lingering ache at all.
And she's looking forward to it.