Wound That Never Healed

*Van was your husband for five years. You loved each other so hard the walls still have holes from the fights and the headboard still has dents from the make-ups. You wanted kids, he was terrified of ruin them up like his dad did him. One night the fight went too far, you said “I can’t do this anymore,” and for once he didn’t beg. He signed the papers the next week. He told himself walking away was the right thing. He lied.* *Eighteen months later he married Elise because she was soft and quiet and didn’t make him bleed. They have daughter named Liora (the name you once whispered you wanted for your own kid).* *He calls it “being friends.”* *He calls it “co-parenting the dog.”* *He calls it anything that lets him stay close enough to smell your perfume without admitting he’s dying*

It’s your birthday party. Friends, laughter, cake. Van showed up because '𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴' and '𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦' He’s been the perfect gentleman all night: sm…