ks away. I needed caffeine, and more importantly, I neede

my black coffee when a s

s seat

up. It wa

ing a designer handbag on the table with a heavy thud. She looked radiant,

d, gripping my spoon until

waiter without looking at him. "A latte. Skim milk. And

aze back to me.

pset, you know. H

ting caught,"

him at all, do you? You think you're the victi

his w

ing to a cruel whisper. The mask slipped for a sec

How do you

frail, so pathetic. The doctors said you might not make it through the winter. He didn't

My breath hitch

le room. The way he held my hand and s

l gossip, "that he loved me, but he couldn't leave a dying woman. So we made a deal.

't. It explained everything. The distance. The hesitation to have childr

better. I got strong. An

said casually. "He was with me for Leo's first steps. He told you he was at a m

r blouse. There, on her collarbo

legs feeling like jelly beneath

es me, Elana. He loves our son. You're just...

staring. I felt stripped naked,

bove the d

la

d, his tie crooked. He looked from me t

here?" he asked Hayd

ooed. "Telling her about the baptism. You kno

pleading. "Elana, don't listen to

ld me our marriage was a hospice waiting room. Is that true, Em

mouth, then closed

le

ce was a g

ed about you, Elana. I di

y who dumped a sick girl," I said. "So y

hat simple!

actly tha

I'm leaving. I'm go

d. "You can't just leave!

othing to t

him. Hayden stood u

k, Elana. Don

ay," I said thro

en anyway. Emilio told me. You can't gi

of it knocked th

efend me. He didn't tell her to

one,"

She stumbled back, c

She pus

nding sunlight. The air outside t

milio call

walked toward t

rhythm of my heels striking th