3#03

3

Our family of three was content until Maria divorced three years ago.

That's when Aiden started to change.

He began supporting Maria financially and emotionally.

"Time is life," he often said.

He fabricated business trips and emergency surgeries to be with her in Harborview.

He'd answer late-night calls, claiming emergencies, but it was Maria wanting his company after nightmares.

The time he had for our family was now divided with Maria.

I endured it, hoping he'd return to us, but things only worsened.

Finally, I snapped.

On our daughter's birthday, we waited for him to take us to Disneyland.

When he didn't show, I called.

He claimed a hospital emergency and told us to go without him.

Later, I checked his phone and discovered he was with Maria on our daughter's birthday.

[Aiden, I cut my finger while thinking about us], Maria had texted with a photo of a minor cut.

I laughed bitterly. By the time Aiden arrived, it had already healed.