The Mistress.

was in a cheerful mood, humming along to his favorite cartoon theme song playing in the background. The familiar sounds of th

left it there after hastily grabbing his keys and heading out the door that morning. A strange

ed. Finally, she took a deep breath, walked over, and picked up the phone. Her heart r

f adrenaline. She told herself it was just work emails, something mundane and innoc

hinking about last

we can meet again. Can't wai

's happened to me. Don't le

king in like a stone. The initial shock fizzled quickly into a dull ache that permeated her whole being. She knew-deep down,

t the phone down, the warmth o

" Ethan's innocent voice broke

ile as she turned to the stove. The words felt like a forei

oworkers, flashed before her. She remembered how he had pulled away from her-physically and emotionally-over the p

able, his bright eyes full of hope.

rmined to maintain a facade of normalcy. She cut up fresh s

r the day. She listened, nodding along, but her heart wasn't in it. Instead, it was g

How could he do this? The question gnawed at her. She had dedicated herself t

rthinking things." No, she had simply been ignoring the signs, convinc

ual return time, anxiety twisted in her stomach. The hou

ter seemed forced. "Hey, I brought you something!" he

ied, the word catc

felt like it was being swallowed by the weight of her knowledge. "How was your da

Daniel said, shoving a forkful of foo

d, her heart racing as she fought to keep he

u know how it goes." He avoided her g

he air, thick and palpable. Victoria felt a lump formin

e bathroom door closed with a soft click, but it felt like the finality of a door slamming shut on their marriage. She closed h

ingling with that floral perfume that still haunted her. He didn't not

voice casual, as if they hadn't

lied, forcing a smile that

ested, flopping down onto the couch, obli

tors playing a role in a performance neither of them believed in anymore. The truth loomed over her, suffocating and

already breaking, a slow and painful fracture th