an stone. Sarah lay on her back, her eyes wide o

refuse

low, strained, as though her b

arlier replayed in her min

lade carving deep

ie at his neck hanging loose as if it had been tugged off in frustrati

in the dim light looked unfamiliar, like a s

efore she forced hi

already carrying the heaviness of someone

t she refused to swallow

the one I am forced to see every single day, is not only Ryan's widow but also the on

, forgotten. His jaw clenched, shadows darkening his fac

. You let me believe she was here out of pity, because she lost Ryan. You let me bear that shame quietly. But all alo

ed the blanket as though it was t

idn't tell you because it doesn't matter anymore. That was th

n she sits in my living room every day? When she eats at my table and my son runs to her instead

tween them pul

Why are you doing this to yourself? I told you it ended ye

like hers than mine? Why does Daniel look at me like I'm an intruder, yet run into her arms as if she gave birth to

er body trembling wi

d on hers, his voice carrying a quiet

a was to me, it ended. You are my wife. I didn't

ery moment I wake up, she is here. Every time I look at my son, I see her shadow.

nrestrained. The sound filled the room, echoing against the

He moved closer, his hand hovering be

ous, like he feared

be anything between me and Tiana again. I married you because I wanted peace, becau

her cheeks streaked with tears. Her lips trembled as

own son? Sitting across the table from a woman who reminds me every day that I

though the air itsel

long moment. His silence pr

ow, deliberate circles. "I am here, Sarah," he whispered. "Believe me

fled into his shirt. His heartbeat thud

let his words stitch her wounds closed. S

s phone burned bright

his shirt with desperate fingers, as if

, each drop carrying the weight of

erstood a bitter truth: his arms might hold her tonight, his voice

eated at her table, lying in h

were no