found a taxi. I directed the driver to a different hospital across the city, far away from him an

he doctor's face was grim. "I'm so sorry," she said sof

nceived in deceit and born of betrayal, would have been a constant reminder of the nightmare.

ring physically. Mentally, I was already go

triumphant selfies with him, romantic dinners, declarations of love. Ea

n the stale air. His clothes were still in the closet, his scent still lingered,

of a beautiful lie. I left behind every gift he'd ever given me, every piece of jewe

grabbed it, my fingers tracing the line where our smiles met. Then, with a furious, decisive motion, I seized a pen and sa

ide was a divorce agreement, already signed by him. C

y hand steady, and signed my name on th

e, an eternity, before his voice, clipped and im

re I could even speak. "Bi

them at a fancy restaurant just an hour ago. My stomach tw

f annoyance. "Look, I'll call you

told him, cutting him off. The wor

ed between us. Then, a ro

erated, my voice flat, dev

the line. "Darling, is everything alright? You sound upset. Is it... her?

voice dripping with contempt. "Crazy. After what she did

anything had happened to her, to your child, I would have made sure you

dn't even wait for my response. "I'm not going to let th

the empty house. Insane. Maybe I was. Insane fo

d his number. And hers. Every social me

out the door. The airport. That was my destination. I was going

ush off my call, but the words, 'divorce papers,' gnawed at him.

something wrong, darling?" she asked, her voice sugary sweet.

uble," he retorted, his anger at me still s