For ten years I was his wife in every way, except for one thing – our official marriage. When I asked him for a signature, he just laughed, “It’s just a piece of paper.” The next morning, his smile disappeared.

I felt like I had gotten in the face.

“Why?”

He leaned back in the chair and calmly replied:

“Because it’s just a card  paper. We already live like husband and wife.”

And then he added a few more words.

And they made me realize that for the last ten years I have seen our relationship very differently than he did.

I didn’t make the scene.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t beg.

I just nodded and said,

“Good.”

Michael even smiled.

It looked like he thought the conversation was over.

That, as always, I will be with him.

That the house, the joint bank account, the dog and ten years of memories tied me to him forever.

But that night, for the first time, I started thinking not about how to get Michael to change his mind.