came in late, reeking of Chloe's perfume. He didn't speak to me, just undres

It wasn't the first time, but tonight it felt worse, more insistent

e tight with pain. "I don't

The soft, rhythmic tapping of fingers on a phone screen. I saw

ed again, a note of d

t pregnancy cramps, Ava. Take one of th

ignoring my pain, because he

phone, that I was still the blind, helpless woman he co

the pain in my heart was a raging inferno. I slid ou

y to the guest room-Chloe's room. The door w

sitting on the edge of the bed in a silky nightgown. He was k

pulling away slightly. "Having to see her every day

ed, stroking her hair. "Just a lit

e's voice was a breathy whisp

nty. "She's blind and deaf to the world, Ch

y lips. He was so wrong. I saw

and I swayed, my hand bumping agains

e room, t

that?" Chl

ease crossed his face. He glanced toward the door. For a moment, I sa

eck, pulling his face back to hers. "Don't t

one, replaced by the familiar obses

into my brain. The pain in my belly was sharper now, a

tstand, my hands shaking so badly I could barely open it

em, create a scene, and be dragged through

k of my baby. This chi

, deaf, foolish wife for a little while longe

l my baby was bor

uld walk away from this house

vast, empty void where my heart used to be. He was n