After I turned thirty, I bought myself a single will.
My name is Shen Nian, I am thirty-two years old and I am a divorce lawyer.
I have been working in the industry for eight years and have fought hundreds of divorce cases. I have seen husbands accuse their wives of "spending money" in court. I have seen wives expose their husbands' extramarital affairs in public while fighting for custody. I have also seen couples who were once in love break up over a property and become inseparable.
Every lawsuit is a funeral of love.
At the end of each trial, I became more convinced of one thing: Love disappears, but contracts don't.
So, on my thirty-second birthday, I did something very ceremonial—I went to the notary office downstairs of the law firm and made myself a perfect "single will."
I am the heir to the property, I am the medical agent, and I am the executor of body donation.
I put this document in a brown paper bag and gave it to myself as a birthday present.
I thought this was what I wanted - a life that was controllable, safe, and not out of control.
After all, I've seen marriage at its worst.
My mother has proven throughout her life that placing your hopes on another person is the stupidest thing in the world. She spent her youth in an unhappy marriage. Before she died, she held my hand and her last words were: "Nian Nian, you must live for yourself."
I did it.
I have a decent job, an independent house, and a few friends with whom I can drink and chat. I don't need a man, I don't need a marriage, I don't need any relationship that might make me weak.
