“Scarlett! Say that again!” Tom Joad’s fury was instantaneous, his forehead veins bulging, his eyes searing Scarlett with a rage that felt like a branding iron on her skin.
Yet, she didn’t know where her courage stemmed from. All she wanted was to break free from the decaying prison, to escape the Tom Joad she had once loved so dearly.
“I said, divorce!” Facing his thunderous wrath, Scarlett showed no fear. Instead, she met his gaze calmly and with determination.
“Divorce? Didn’t you scheme and even caused Calpurnia’s death just to marry me? Are you willing to give up now?” Tom Joad questioned her, feeling like the woman before him was a stranger. She was no longer the clinging girl who used to follow him around, calling him ‘Brother Joad’ with affection.
“I never intended to harm her. I’ve explained over and over, and if you choose not to believe me, there’s nothing I can do. Since you’re set on this path, either kill me or divorce me!” Scarlett had never been so clear-headed, nor so resolute.
She knew Tom Joad would always hold a place in her heart, but she could no longer endure the pain, the relentless cuts he inflicted upon her heart. She admitted she was truly exhausted, she just wanted to let go.
“To think of escaping? Do you really believe I’d let you have your way? I want to see you suffer, living a life worse than death. I want you to atone for what you’ve done to Calpurnia! I won’t kill you, I won’t divorce you. I enjoy watching you writhe in agony, it brings me joy.”
Tom Joad sneered at her with gritted teeth, whether from hatred for her or from frustration at her desire to leave, he didn’t want to let her go. He wanted to keep her around to continue torturing.
Perhaps even he couldn’t distinguish whether he was torturing Scarlett or himself.
Seeing the despair in her eyes, Tom felt a prick in his heart, a momentary pang of pain, and he suddenly released her, as if he could no longer muster the strength.
But soon, his usual loathing returned, and he coldly dropped a sentence: “I’ll pick you up and take you home tomorrow.”
He watched as Scarlett lay on the bed, unmoving as if dead, the only sign of life the steady stream of tears from her eyes.
Her eyes were open, lifeless, staring into nothingness.
“You will never escape my grasp….”
Without further ado, he turned and left the hospital room. The door slammed shut, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Scarlett just stared ahead, at her wrists, and then a faint smile escaped her lips: “Is your hatred for me so profound? If I were to die, would that put an end to your animosity…”