My mother-in-law, Doña Carmen, was standing on the terrace with her arms crossed.
She watched me with an expression somewhere between satisfaction and disdain, as if she had finally gotten rid of something annoying.

My sister-in-law, Luciana, was by his side, with a crooked smile on her lips.

“Just leave already, so you stop getting in the way,” she said quietly, but loud enough for him to hear.

My ex-husband, Alejandro, wasn’t there.
He didn’t even come out to say goodbye.

Perhaps he was somewhere inside the house.
Or maybe he had left early so he wouldn’t have to witness that scene.

Anyway… it didn’t matter anymore.

I didn’t ask to take anything with me.

No arguments.
No complaints.
No tears.

Just the clothes she was wearing and a small bag.

I bowed my head in a final farewell.

-I’m going now.

No one answered.

I turned around and walked towards the exit.

Just as I put my hand on the lock of the iron gate…

A deep, hoarse voice sounded behind me.

-Maria.

I stopped immediately.