"I want a divorce!" - excerpt from Snow Phoenix and Me

Dusk, a peachy dusk over shredded gray clouds and white creamy fields, had fallen when I eventually tottered back to the house like a drunkard. The sky was bejeweled with twinkling stars. From the west, a gust of wind, howling and icy, slapped my face. Yes, yes, slap me harder, please, I said to myself. I wanted the cold to numb my heartache.

The front door was opened by the ever-efficient Ah Lan as soon as I set foot on the porch. "Madam is waiting for you in the hall, Master," she said with a sniffle. Her eyes were red; she had been crying too. I guessed Suet-foong must have told her everything.

"All right, thank you," I replied, pretending to be unaware of her present emotional state.

"The cold outside has chilled you to the bone, Master," she said as she helped me remove my jacket. "Would you like a cup of hot cocoa?"

"Yeah, that would be nice," I smiled, rubbing my hands; I could hardly feel them.

Suet-foong, deep in thought, was sitting on the couch by the fireplace. Orange flames were dancing inside it and the sound of crackle could be heard from the burning woods. It was warm and cozy, just the right tonic to defrost my ice-hardened butt.

"Ake, we have to talk," said my wife when she noticed me entering the hall.

"Sure, Sugarplum," I replied as I sat beside her. It looked like the defrosting had to take a rain check.

Fortunately, Ah Lan brought my cocoa just in time. The hot, frothy goodness really hit the spot. While I was gulping the beverage down with utmost relish, I caught sight of Suet-foong's wedding ring on the coffee table.

Uh-oh.

"I think we should cut short our stay in Beijing and return to Shanghai before my condition gets worse," she said.

"Yes, of course, you decide what is best. I'll always support you."

My eyes were on the ring.

"After that, I want a divorce," she added.

I nearly choked on my cocoa. My eyes darted at her as I managed to splutter: "W ... What?"

"I want a divorce," she repeated.

Putting away my cup, I grabbed her by the shoulders. I think I might have manhandled her. "Hey, hey, what is this? We're together, we are happy. Why do you suddenly want us to go our separate ways? Furthermore, I've said to you long before never to mention this forbidden word - have you forgotten?"

"Don't be stupid, Ake," she said, looking at me. Her face was sad. "I'm dying. I'm only burdening you ..." She paused. "Go get yourself another better woman worthy of your love and affection."

I had long pooh-poohed the old saying that tells a true love is measured by the sacrifice one is willing to make, but when Suet-foong actually did it, I went pale and was shaken all over, just like a dry martini. All I could say was: "Are you frigging mad?"

Read the rest of this tense but exciting chapter in "Snow Phoenix and Me" by Arthur T. Y. Foo, available now in Amazon.com and Kindle!