A missed birthday—followed by flowersandan apology.
A missed wedding anniversary—followed by a gift, flowers, and an apology.
And then he started missing more and more…and stopped apologizing.
Just a casual, “You understand, don’t you, baby? It’s so busy.”
As if I didn’t even deserve an explanation.
I took it. I swallowed my hurt. I wanted to be supportive. I wanted to be a good wife.
I wanted to—God help me—keep him.
Tears fill my eyes.
I was afraid of losing him.
That’s the reason I let his family abuse me.
Let him disrespect me by spending more and more time with another woman.
Iallowed this to happen.
I was so busy beinga good wife,I didn’t realize that I was compensating for him being a shit husband.
I mean, who takes his work wife (yeah, I know what they call Diana) to Paris on his wedding anniversary? An asshole does. A man who isn’t worthy of being called husband.
I let my need for a family take precedence over my need to be seen. I kept shrinking, kept smiling, kept hoping and praying that Aiden wouldn’t leave me.
And now?
Now, I’m lying in a bed we picked out together, in a house I helped turn into a home, wondering how long I’ve been disappearing—little pieces at a time.
I turn my head to look at his side of the bed. It’s empty. Devoid.
Deciding to leave him has resulted inheartache, absolutely.
Butsurprisingly, there is also peace.
I no longer have to live in fear that he’s going to abandon me, because that already happened. I don’t have to be terrified of him asking me for a divorce, because that’s happening. I don’t have to be petrified of the idea that he’s going to choose another,betterwoman, because…he’s done that, too.
All my nightmares have come true, so I don’t have to fear them anymore.
I lay a hand on the cold pillow.
Is he working in his office downstairs, or is he mourning the version of us that I’m still fighting to remember?
My eyes fall on the photo on his nightstand. It’s his favorite. At least that’s the bullshit he sold me.
It’s when we got engaged. It’scandid.
The bookstore manager took it. That’s where he proposed to me, where we first met. Aiden had told her he was planning on proposing to me, so she was ready for it.
I’m laughing while he kisses my lips.
The ring is beautiful.
My eyes are filled withhappiness.
