Showdown After Five Years

A post suddenly popped up on my phone screen. The sender was Lance Jonathan, my husband of three years. The caption was just one sentence: "One like, immediate divorce!" The photo showed his profile as he sat in a bar booth, a casual smile resting at the corner of his lips. I stared at the screen, stunned, for three seconds. In three years of marriage, he always loved testing my limits with these flippant gestures. I used to soothe him, feigning anger as I asked if he'd lost his mind. But that day, for some reason, my fingertips seemed to have a will of their own; I lightly tapped, and the red heart lit up. When the "like successful" notification popped up, my heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Within ten minutes, Lance Jonathan's call came through. "Jinny, you actually dared to click it?" His voice was thick with incredulous anger. "You said it yourself: like it, and we'd get divorced." I answered calmly. "Fine. It's your choice." He hung up the phone without a trace of hesitation. The next day, we stood at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau. When signing, Lance Jonathan's hand paused for a moment. "Don't you feel even a little bit reluctant?" He asked. I picked up the signed divorce certificate and put it into my bag. "Lance, we should have ended this a long time ago." After saying that, I turned and left without looking back. Five years passed in the blink of an eye. I changed cities, changed jobs, and completely cut ties with my past. That afternoon, I walked into a café near the office, ordered a coffee, and sat down by the window. Just as I opened my laptop, a familiar voice sounded beside me. "Long time no see, Jinny." I looked up and met Lance Jonathan's eyes. He looked more mature than five years ago, dressed in a suit, appearing successful in his career. "Is there something you need?" I withdrew my gaze and went back to the computer screen. "Nothing, I just didn't expect to see you here." He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. When the waiter approached, he immediately ordered a coffee—no sugar. "You still like black coffee?" He said with a smile. "I haven't had it like that for a long time." I responded coldly. "How have you been these past five years?" He paid no attention to my attitude and spoke as if I weren't there. "Pretty good." I replied curtly, my fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. "I know I was wrong back then," he lowered his voice. "I shouldn't have mentioned divorce that way. Actually, I regret it." I stopped typing and looked at him. "Lance, I don't want to bring up the past anymore." "Jinny, can we start over?" His eyes were full of hope. "I'm able to give you the life you want now." I lifted the coffee on the table and took a sip. The bitter taste spread across my tongue, just like that marriage years ago. "No need." I put the cup down and stood up. "I have something to do. I'm leaving now." "Jinny!" He reached out to stop me. I turned to the side to avoid him, grabbed my bag, and hurried out. Stepping out of the café, the sunlight was harsh. I glanced back. Lance Jonathan was still sitting in that spot, staring out the window. Five years have passed, yet he's still so self-centered, thinking a single regret can erase all the damage. But some wounds, once inflicted, never fully heal.