His Choice Wasn't Me

shoulder, her hands trembling as if they were too weak to hold a

sweeping through the crowd as s

any. Not James, not

"Mummy, are you okay?" from Daniel. Her thumb hovered over James'

d up. She forced herself insi

d in polite curiosity, watching her p

ze to the window. She let the noise o

reminding her how alone she was. She quiet

iped it quickly with the back of her hand. Above her, the clouds gathered

t first, before beating down harder, drenching the wheel screen of the cab. The rain k

d calmed, her chest throbbed with dread. The house th

ly, her legs weak fr

hat told nothing of peace, but absence.

ree chairs pulled close as tho

mes and Daniel had planned something for her ho

e kitchen, her smile thin and nervous. She fi

nce said

s ches

the stairs. A small voi

ad

ering in her eyes again. She had missed that voice more

psed when his eyes met hers. His small face

forcing a smile. "Come to

ned sharply to Clara. "When

's face turned pale. She glanced at Sarah, th

s the table, needing to sit. But Daniel'

na's chair. She si

g. "Danny, mummy just came back from the h

are better already. You don't belong

s. She stretched out her hand, desperat

ved her chest

lder slammed into the floor, her wrist

sound of the front door openin

nt. His face lit up, and he ran forw

caught as the d

bright as though the house was hers. Arm in arm with her, g

laughter loud and sweet, the kind of laughte

na's back, his eyes softened in a

ah's chest rose and

ms, her husband looking at that woman with tenderness, their bodi

eamed, set for thre

throat ached as though s

he had buried deep forced its way

g to come back to