hday" song. My birthday party was a wake for

wallowed the bitterness that rose in my throat and walked over to an empty chair in the

lly, a gesture of ownership and pride. The entire room revolved around them, the happy couple expe

watched, etching every moment of this humiliation into my m

emed to remember I existed. He walked over

go?" he asked, as

via?" I asked

s came to pick her up. I' m going to go ch

to her. Even now, after

d. "You go. I'

hed for my hand, b

I said.

nt, then turned and lef

a man who claimed to love his wife, who insisted on keeping their child, act like this? It didn' t make any sense. Unless the marriage itse

replaying in my mind. I was woken the next morning not b

ead pounding. When I opened

. She was flanked by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Da

asked, my hand tight

," Mrs. Davis said, her voice sharp and unpleasant.

iving room, uninvited, making

h a greedy glint. "Trying to trap Liam with a baby that' s not even his. O

ld choke on it. This family, with their complet

agile and victimized. She patted her stoma

would take care of me and our baby. He' s going to divorce you, Ava. You should just ac

lies. I turned to walk away, to go

say to you," I sa

k away from me!"

d a thud. I turned back to see Olivia on th

She pushed me!

to their feet, ru

have you done?" Mrs.

ard; it was more of a theatrical slide to the floor

ened, and Liam walked in. He

demanded, his eyes wide

a hand out to him. "Ava pushed

ore I could get a word out, Mr. Davis lunged at me. He didn't h

y for this!"

t to defend me, but to

to go to the hospital." He cradled her hea

ile tears. "Liam, I' m so scared. Make her leave. I don' t wan

sh over me, my head swimming. Through the haze, I saw the corner of Olivia' s

f him, a tiny flicker of the man I used to know, seemed to be questioning the scene. But then he l

in explaining. There was no point in f

a mistake to ever love him. And that mist