I felt my face burn.
Behind her, Eric appeared barefoot, annoyed.
“Just look at your daughter,” I said. “I’m not asking for money for myself. Her treatment is expensive.”
Eric glanced toward the carrier briefly.
I stood there staring at painted wood, listening to Chloe make soft noises behind me.
“I have a life now. Stop showing up with your little brat.”
Tessa laughed behind him.
The door closed before I could answer.
I stood there staring at painted wood, listening to Chloe make soft noises behind me.
Something inside me went still.
My neighbor, June, helped carry Chloe upstairs and asked whether I needed anything.
I had spent weeks begging Eric to remember we mattered.
I finally stopped.
By the time I got home, I had cried myself half to death.
My neighbor, June, helped carry Chloe upstairs and asked whether I needed anything.
I almost said no from habit.
After Eric left, Barbara stopped calling too. I assumed she’d chosen his side.
Instead, I opened my phone and called the last person I ever expected to trust.
Barbara answered sleepily.
Eric’s mother and I had never liked each other much. She thought I was too sensitive. I thought she excused her son constantly.
I had never complained to her about him.
After Eric left, Barbara stopped calling too. I assumed she’d chosen his side.
The line stayed silent so long I checked whether we’d disconnected.
Still, when she asked, “What’s wrong?” I told her everything without protecting Eric once.
The line stayed silent so long I checked whether we’d disconnected.
Then Barbara said, “He told me you left him.”
I sat straighter.
“What?”
“He said you didn’t want me involved with you or the baby.”
“Barbara, he left me.”
