His Deception, Her Redemption

wered into the ground. A month later, the silence was replaced by something worse. My brother-

me. He was looking at Falon, who stood by the door with her single suitcase

rus, claiming it was habit. She' d knock on our bedroom door late at night, feigning nightmares, pulling Cyrus away for h

Cyrus say no. I wanted him to tell her that was inappropriate, that I was his wife.

seeking his approval. Now, watching him cater to her every whim, I real

r. "Dad," I said, my voice

pte

nd of my husband' s brother being lowered into the ground.

rother-in-law' s w

Blanchard, decided she

me. He was looking at Falon, who stood by the door with her single suitcase

ice low so Falon wouldn' t hear. "We don'

yes cold. "We' ll make space.

ur of quiet apologies and sad smiles. The

nding right outside the bathroom door, holdin

nd innocent. "It' s just a habit. Mark, my late h

oom door late at night. The first time, Cyrus

ghtmare," she whispered, tears in her eyes.

to her in the living room.

kitchen, trying to find the energy to cook. Cyrus and Fal

oice thick with self-pity. "Mark used to massage them

I wanted to hear Cyrus say no. I wanted him to tel

oman. Then his low, soothing voice. "O

n, past the living room where my husband was gently rubbing his pregnant sister-i

hone and dialed m

y voice shaking.

the other end. "Ke

mares. The foot massage. It all sounded so petty,

wanted a wife who was home. I learned to cook his favorite meals, even the ones I hated. I dressed the way he liked, con

I choked out. "I gave

words. His voice was hard when he spoke again.

ve,"

hards or their business. I helped build it. I can

d over me. The part of me that had been s

gnize the woman staring back. Her eyes were tired. He

pt on the couch i

, wearing one of Cyrus' s dress shirts over her leggings. It

ing, Kelsey. Did you sleep well? I kn

led something and left. Th

voice even. "That' s

It was just on the back of the

t off,"

d, confuse

didn' t rise. It was flat, cold, and fi