Her Vanishing Act, His Deep Regret

e's

best friend Sarah exchanged a look with me, silently protesting. Everyone could see it: Kellan's concern

top calling her?" Kellan was completely oblivious to this,

helples

Kellan always said he just had a soft spot, that Azure was young, fragile, and

llan canceled our dinner at the last minute because Azure h

"soothe her nerves," leaving me to eat cold pizza alone at home. A

en he came home, he casually tossed a necklace on my pillow with a note: "For my good wife." The scales were never balanced-the com

Pretending not to c

led at a loose thread on her napkin, her tone sharp. He

should I answer? Say that I just wanted a home, wanted to be

ure was late, as usual, and casually placed a brand

smiled brightly, looking at Kellan with gratitude.

nstantly lingering on her. He hadn't loo

week, I can barely read the text now." This was a test I threw out there. I hadn't chan

that." He paused, then looked back at Azure. "But Azure was i

plate, silently swallowing food that tas

t later it just became the norm. Kellan no longer asked for my opinion; he just issued notices. Even our last wedding anniversary was spent in a n

rotest. "Kellan, sometimes I feel

g wife, and Azure is just a child who needs guidance. You don't need me hovering around you. Why do y

making me feel like the bad guy, sa

d the same parents and the same terrible upbringing. He always promised he would make

n empty check. I looked at my plat

fully prepared, but immediately handed

hallenges of the new job," he said, smiling brightly at her,

essly about her "challenging" new job. Kellan list

a bystander. Occasionally, he w

okay," but his eyes never left Azure. I c

ank before bed. From the living room, I could hear him talking on the phone in a hush

t. My heart sank. We had agreed to start

om holding the teacup, and

gree to look for a n

e is up next week, and she desperately needs a

the cup on the coffee table and turned t

omile tea still sat in the exact s

hand subconsciously covering my lower abdo

uddenly felt inc