1. Chapter 1 by kasia87
The weight of the pen in his hand grew heavier by the second. The papers in front of him seemed to almost sneer at him in the dark.
These were not song lyrics, or a music contract, or documents for the show. These were more personal. More hard hitting, more devastating more crushing than any signature he’d ever written. No autograph could even wrap itself around the magnitude of these documents. The fresh ink that stained these pages could’ve coated his battered heart as well.
Dissolution of Marriage. Divorce papers.
Rebecca had served him while he'd walked to the studio from his car a week ago. How she'd even got someone into MTV studios at that time of day baffled him. He signed a random autograph on the way in, and was served the papers a moment later. Just like that, she wanted out after almost 3 years.
And he knew why. The late nights with her personal trainer at the gym were not marathon training. Private Pilate's classes, or excuses about getting to the gym later than usual. He knew better.
All it would take was a stroke of the pen and it would end an entire life.
His own.
An entire life he’d devoted to her.
“Sign the damn papers already,” a text on his phone lit up. “I could always forge your signature. I have to have something you’ve autographed lying around.”
The air in his lungs escaped as he read it. She would stoop that low to get what she wanted. If she could loop his “J” the right way, it would be almost impossible to detect a forgery.
He could contest it in court since he knew they’d be fighting over property sooner or later. They were already fighting over who would keep the blue throw pillows in the bedroom.
The clock ticked away in his office and he rubbed his eyes. They wearily fell upon the large wedding photo displayed in the hallway.
Just like that, his entire world, and his marriage would be over with the stroke of a pen. It couldn’t possibly be that easy.
His leather notebook, full of lyrics lay next to the papers. The past few days he’d written everything that had crossed his mind. In between crying and writing, a barrage of e-mails, text messages and phone calls lay unanswered.
But there were so many other questions unanswered. His own questions that were unanswered.
He put his hands to his face and the gold band on his finger caught the light. He slid it off his finger and holding it in his hand, turned it absentmindedly.
His mind flashed back to their wedding day. A gorgeous sunny day in Miami. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
“I, Joshua affirm my love to you, Rebecca as I invite you to share my life. Today I give myself to you in marriage in front of God. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.”