My Man

her belly swollen with their soon-to-arrive baby. Leo was working from h

ke!" she exclaimed, her hands c

pital bag they had packed weeks ago. "Let's go,

ontraction, making her double over. Leo supported her,

could feel the baby moving down the birth canal. Leo coached h

wheelchair, and they rushed into the labor ward. The me

ive's contractions grew stronger and more intense.

octor said, urgency in her voice. "Olive,

through the final stages of labor. Olive felt a surge of fear, but Leo's calm prese

s the medical team work

the doctor held up a tiny, squirming bundle

at her newborn daughter. Leo's face lit up with

e felt a sense of pride and wonder, but also a creeping sense of dread. H

side. He didn't look back, didn't glance at his baby again. He just kept wa

s departure at first. But as the minutes ticked by and he

ed the nurse, trying t

d, "I'm not sure,

d calling Leo's phone, but i

lanning his escape all along, and she had unknowingly played along. The fact that he had sol

belongings and moved back to her ap

came to accept that Leo was truly gone. She waited until the end o

d return. With a deep breath, she wiped away tears and began to focus on her own heali

Leo. She tried to reach out to him, but his phone number was no longer in ser

balance work and caring for her baby, but she refused to give up. She poured all her

a new sense of purpose in her role as a mother and started to r

ar, Olive

all house was cozy, with a big backyard where her child could play. Olive loved watching her lit

kers. They would often ask about her child's father, but Olive just smiled and said he was no

ind. Had she done something wrong? Was he overwhelmed by

all house was cozy, with a big backyard where her child could play. Olive loved watching her lit

ers. They would often ask about her child's father, but Olive just smiled and said he was no lo

ous package in the mail. Inside, she found a photograph of her child, taken just days ago, play

ted, wondering if she should answer. B

, trying to keep

iar voice said.

beat as she recognized

emanded, trying to kee

plied. "And I'm com

e went dead. She stumbled backward

everything