Allison

My eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean by that, Mom?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Call it what it is, Allison," Mom said, her tone resolute. "Tom and I...we're not happy together. More like, I'm not happy. I'm not happy in this marriage anymore."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut as I tried to comprehend the hell she was yammering about.

"Are you saying you want to divorce him? Is that really it now?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly.

Mom's sigh was audible over the phone. "Yes, Allison. I would like to divorce Tom."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "But why?...