I found a small, quiet coffee shop and sat by the window, letting the hot ceramic mu

a "wild weekend." I remembered the exhaustion, the constant stress of juggling my own fin

face etched with worry. "He's taking advantage of

ords like a prayer. "I promised her, Daniel. He j

a business idea that vanished along with the cash. I drained our joint savings account, took out secre

e had picked it out together, dreaming of filling it with kids and laughter. I sold it

e didn't yell. His quiet dis

said, his bags packed by the door. "I love you, but I can't b

duty. After he left, things got worse. Liam's schemes escalated, culminating in the single

ched. This was the week I was supposed to have a massive fight with Daniel. In my old life, Liam had been arrested for a DUI in the new car I had refused to co-sign for today

would be

iel's number in my contacts. I h

re I could lose my nerve. It r

of concern, the voice of the man who still lov

out, my voice thick with emotion. "Can..

e are you? I'll

ed, I felt a nervous flutter. What would I say? How cou

n, his eyes scanning the room until they found me. The relie

ed terrified," he said, sliding

voice barely a whisper. "

nfused. "Sor

hoosing my words carefully. I couldn't tell him the truth, not the whole truth. "Something happened today. A... a wake-up call. I saw my wh

ning. He reached across the table and took

ust been worried about you. I lo

d things are going to be different now. No more money for Liam

it, because a slow, hopeful smile spread across his face. It was t

id, his voice thick with relief. "I've be

e," I said, a wave of peace

owing wider. "Okay. I'm

d splash of water, I felt safe. I had a second chance n