Not ordinary tired.

The kind of tired that slowly changes the way you think.

I spent every day caring for a newborn while the person who was supposed to be my partner became more distant.

Still, I kept making excuses for him.

He was working hard.

He was stressed.

He was building our future.

That was what I told myself.

Then one afternoon, I called him.

I had Sophie on my hip and was trying to decide whether to cook dinner for one person or two.

“Will you be home tonight?”

He answered sharply.

“Probably not. Grace, can you stop checking up on me? I’m working. I don’t need you calling me constantly.”

The words hurt.