e certificate in a manila envelope, the paper a tangible link to a reality that D

ent onto his bedside table. "This is our marriage certific

t away, his disinterest a fresh wound. "I don'

brought you some of that chicken soup you like," she cooed, completely ignoring my

s cold expression melted into a war

pouring the soup into a bowl

s my job!" I stood up, my chair scraping against the linoleum floor.

the soup, to do something, anything t

e with surprising force. Chloe stumbled back, a fake little gasp escaping her lips as sh

gentle David, was defending this woman again

d out. "She's trying

"She's the only one who makes any sense. You just show up

your wife. Remember our wedding? Under the big oak tree at your mother's

d something in his ear. I couldn't hear t

with condescension. "She said you were unstable. That you were o

htaking. "Break you up? She w

ave been miserable. You look exhausted. Haggard. Look at Chloe. She's kind and gentle." He tur

This wasn't just amnesia. This w

t on the chain when my fingers swelled during a summer heatwave, and I never moved it back. I pulled it o

f hope. "You gave this to me. You said it was a perfect

thought I saw a flicker of something in his eyes, a shado

ring, but to bat my hand away. The small gold band flew from my grasp, hitt

und of my mar

d final. He turned his back to me, pulling

turned and walked out of the room, leaving my ri