laugh and my husband' s lies. The physical pain from the skin grafts

t. Mark walked in with a tray. A single rose

ld use some breakfast in bed," he

face. Instead, I sat up slowly,

tful." My voice was flat, devoi

bed. "You seem distant. Is

looking past him, out the

'm taking Liam to school. Scarlett is stopping by

ame so easily

," I

ips felt like ice. "Get some

ut a suitcase hidden in the back. I started packing, my movements methodical and precise. I took only my most personal belongings, my

opped up on my phone. I

urday at 10 AM. We hope to see all our famil

it. Why would I go? To watch t

of their betrayal, to burn away any lingering shred of doubt or love that might still be h

simple dress that hid the bandages on my body

them almost immediately. Mark and Scarlett were standing by the ba

whispered something in Scarlett's ear. She threw her head back and

broke me. Liam tugge

an I have

e lawn. A few nearby parents turned to

she cooed, handing him a

es met mine from across the field. His smile faltered for a second, th

steal my husband and my life in privat

h tears I refused to let fall. I just nee

bumped into someone hard, sending a pa

y," I stammered,

eyes widening in recognition. "Oh my god, you're Ava Ha

. Heads turned. The laughing

ross the field, I saw Mark, Scarlett, and Liam start walking towards me, their f