NAH

mask of concern. He rushed to my side on the sofa, where

u were upset. What's wrong?" he asked, his voice

my body not to flinch away from him. His touch, which had been my comfor

he blanket tighter around me. "I think

d, his thumb stroking my che

oast, to a spot he said she had loved, to "say a few words." He always came back melancholy and d

cal weight in my chest, m

I said, my voice sounding surprisingly

what I once thought was love, but now

ah? I can't leave y

g a weak smile. "I'll just

ehead. "You're too good to me.

shaking had stopped. The tears had dried. There was only a hollow space where m

ookshelves, had always felt like his sanctuary. Now it felt like a crime scene. I ran my h

easy. David was meticulous, paranoid. He wouldn't leave

rgan, scrolling through that sleek, silver tablet in

bound first editions, was a charging dock I'd never seen before. And nestl

touch. I pressed the power button, and the screen lit

t would it be? His birthday? Our annive

I thought I knew, but the man who had lied to my face for 1,825

. A tiny, almost imperceptible line of text near the charging port, finely engraved. I

to be about four or five. April 12th, 2018. My

blet u

't breathe. Then, I op

avalanche

er belly. There was David, in hospital scrubs, holding a tiny, red-faced newborn, h

set. There were videos of David teaching him to say "Dada." There were family holidays

final, soul-

room of a beautiful, sun-drenched house I'd never seen before. My mother was holding h

in on it. My entire world,

piness, built on the foundation of my deception. Every smile, e

. David and Morgan were sitting on a

thing?" Morgan asked, her voice a pur

of us. It's cruel, I know. But it's the only way. Just a little longer, Morg. Once the final

n the silent room.

e I was sick, vomiting until there was nothing left but bitter bile. I collapsed onto the cold tile

reath, the tablet chimed from

ng, and picked it up. It was

d had given me for our first anniversary. Mor

r on me, don't you think? Happy anniversa