pte

More

schoo

f so many

me, again and ag

nsisted that Martha

rced myself to stay composed-he was still young, after all. H

u one last cha

n and think. Between me and her

turned

essing his forehead against her b

shot me a strange look before scoopi

rantic, I tried to chase

ne blocke

l. "That's my child!

rs of judgment r

s are getting more an

oks. Anyone would think she

me abo

show we all need

.

ted stares b

ch up, but no matter which way I ran, someone

ti

lice a

Janet had

d the crowd

icers, eager to report. "Officer, you wouldn'

a child right outside the kindergart

f with her kid, this woman st

d her, who knows wha

.

n I personally went to pick up

en away right before m

n in place, u

eived a report accusing you of child abductio

int in chasing

d numbly.

.

ntity was verified, they quickly d

aul-m

s outcome and immediately apologized. "W

ut tears spilled down my cheeks unco

chi

ed my heart and so

woman "Mom" in front of the kind

ied to console me. "Kids don't alw

t didn't know how to

een their fair shar

refused to acknowledge his

ed out i

cer stepped forward. "Do you

N

.

ved. If I wanted to bring Paul home

at it, I neede

rten teachers di

knew Mart

r from the police station

dress, and then sat quietly in the bac

minutes would be eno

dwelled on it,

anaged to hold back came

lly love Martha

gh t

mother without

ny, I didn't hesitate-I strod

e door open, I overheard the p

rump. Aside from being patient and lovi

net-same age, but she dress

stays cooped up at home, obsessin

-vivacious, warm-hearted,

rce Mary in a heartbeat

eps f

's friends... was I

r to Peter and ask, "Dude, what

tha Janet anymore, we'r

even after divorce and with a child in tow,

eh

m fell

ir breath, waitin

g with Mary was purely because Marth

ed me-traveled thousands

t, she was like a lifel

g in the darkness when

as gratefu

I really thought Mary and I w

e was dea

the faint breaths

o

e with me-not be

he had been dumpe

ed to show up at

er wounds into my alr

arp it nearly knoc

etached, as if analyzing a case. "All these

my wedding, calling her repeatedly after she refused..." His tone grew distant, lost in

me, I realized the truth." His voice dropped,

ever harbored su

is wa

of marriage, after all

still belo

g that if I just let the past go,

bled as I wip

question burning through me: "