"Let's sit together."
The sentence surprised Ivan a bit, when he just entered the shelter where his family resides. His wife didn't stared at him in anger or suspicious. Was it because he came home with dirt on his face? But before he guessed further, he choose to pick up the stool near the fireplace and sit next to her.
"What is it, dearie?"
"I'm regretting for what I always accused you."
Silence. Ivan still surprised, but there's a happiness twirling inside his guts. Yet... it still feels odd.
"I can understand you are jealous with my proximity in the ensemble... But this time, I don't even close with everyone-"
"I know. I have seen you proven it just like you promised. However, you should still know the reason why I have treated you harshly."
"... Why?"
"I was born in an infidelity family. My great aunts and aunts are all having cheating men in marriage. Whether the coworker, the neighbor, even the maid. The only normal was my parents. However, this doesn't stop my aunts to tell every female cousins include me; marriage is scary, as all men will always cheat. And I have to be fiercely monitoring future husband. They will belittle male cousins, too, telling such destiny to be a cheater. The proof also often proven, when male cousins becoming what my aunts has prophesied."
"And that's why you cut contact from your family forever, after marry me..."
"At first I thought I could prove that I am different. I will breaking the cycle. But... the doctrine was too strong. Whenever I see you kindly helping the ballerinas at backstage, I feel like my aunts are pushing me to accuse you. I was too fretting that our sons will be just like my cousins."
"....I understand. I sort of wish you could tell me when we just get married... but still, thank you to be honest with me."
"This still won't justify what I've done to you. I just... don't want to kept you in the dark anymore."
"I know... I admit I don't love you since long ago. I only cared because I have duty as husband and father. I kept the marriage just because I love our sons... But seeing our sons looked more miserable... I think we have been abusive to them..."
"...Then, let's divorce. Not as a threat, but as an offer."
Another silence comes. Both of them stared at the fireplace. Then to the pot of bubbling soup. Ivan sighed, but not in defeat.
"Yeah, let's. Maybe this is for our best. The freedom to be ourselves."
"And about our sons... we will ask them the proper schedule of visiting you and later visiting me."
"They will be happy. Well, as long they are happy, we will be happy."
"You're right... Okay, I will seek our marriage certificate first. You know, it shall be returned to the city hall. I hope I don't lose it when we are evacuating from the bombings. But when will the city hall open?"
"I heard the city hall more focusing on re-registration over returning soldiers by this month. So I'm afraid other administrative stuff would be taken care around July."
"There's still enough time to slowly explain things to our sons first, then. And assuring we won't abandon them."
"Correct. But I will try to ask the clerk for the exact schedule. Since I also need to register myself as one of the returning soldier tomorrow. Sooner is better."
Both sighed in relief. The burdened has all gone. The only thing in Ivan's mind is to help his wife seeking the marriage certificate. Or maybe help writing the divorce letter together. Ivan's wife stood up from the stool, then checking on the boiling soup in the pot. The soup is ready.
"Vanechka..." called his wife, and she turned her back to give him the bowl of hot soup.
"Yeah?"
"...Thank you to be patient all of this time. To be a good father for our sons."
He pick up the bowl of soup carefully. The small smile pulled out from this sweet man's face. Not just a performance, but a true grateful.
"Thank you to be a good mother for our sons, too."