"I know this isn't what you wanted for your life. But you'll make the best of it somehow. You always do."
Then he's gone, leaving me standing there alone.
Making the best of it.
That's what I've been doing my entire life, isn't it? Making the best of a world that absolutely refuses to let me be what I'm actually capable of being.
And I'm so tired of it that I can barely breathe sometimes.
I pull out my phone and compose a text to Santino.
Me: I left my laptop at your place. I need to pick it up.
His response takes a few minutes to arrive.
Santino: When?
Me: Today, while you're at work. I don't want to bother you. Can you give me the keycode?
Another pause, this one noticeably longer than the first.
Santino: The keycode?
Me: To your building. So I can let myself in.
I can practically feel his hesitation radiating through the phone screen.
Santino: I can bring it to you.
Me: I'm at the port all morning. It's easier if I just pick it up.
Santino: Liana...
Me: Unless you don't want me to have access to your place?
That should get him exactly where I need him. After everything I said about being a good wife, about being prepared for our future together, about wanting to be genuinely involved in his life. If he refuses to give me the code now, he looks like he doesn't trust me at all.
His response comes through after another long pause.
Santino: Building code is 4782.
Me: Thank you.
No heart emoji this time. No exclamation points. Just the simple facts.
Let him wonder about the change in my communication style.
I pocket my phone and head toward my car, parked in the employee lot.
Away from the port and everything I'm about to lose.
Away from the life I was supposed to have.
That evening, I'm sitting on my bed and staring at my laptop when Gia knocks on my door.
"Come in."
She enters and closes the door carefully behind her. "How was everything at the port this morning?"
