divorce was finalized, Max announced that he was marrying Claire.
He announced it on Facebook. A picture of the two of them on a mountain somewhere, Claire holding up her left hand with a ring so big it looked like a doorknob. The caption said, “When you finally find someone who takes care of themselves as much as you do. ”
Takes care of themselves.
That was for me. I knew it was for me.
Everybody I knew saw it. My sister called me crying. My mother called me furious. Two women from my book club sent me screenshots with the words “Are you okay??” like I might not have seen it.
I’d seen it.
I looked at that picture for a long time. Claire’s flat stomach. Her perfect teeth. Her glowing skin.
Then I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror again.
The same tired woman looked back.
