Chapter 7 - THE HUSBAND WHO LOST HIS PLACE
Michael called every day.
Sometimes twice.
He wanted to explain.
To apologize.
To see the children.
I arranged temporary parenting schedules through our attorneys.
I didn't want Sophie and Ben caught in the middle.
Michael remained their father.
His betrayal of me did not erase his responsibility to them.
One evening, he came to collect the children.
Sophie ran into his arms.
Ben followed.
For a moment, Michael looked like the man I had married.
Gentle.
Patient.
Loving.
Then Sophie asked:
“Daddy, why aren't you sleeping here anymore?”
Michael froze.
I stepped closer.
“Mommy and Daddy are working through some grown-up problems.”
Sophie frowned.
“Are you getting divorced?”
My heart tightened.
I knelt beside her.
“We haven't made all our decisions yet.”
She looked between us.
“Did I do something wrong?”
I pulled her into my arms.
“No, sweetheart.”
Michael knelt beside us.
“Absolutely not.”
Sophie began crying.
Ben looked frightened.
I held both children.
And I hated Michael in that moment.
Not because he had stopped loving me.
But because his choices had reached into the safest part of our children's lives.
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After they left, I sat on the kitchen floor.
For the first time, I allowed myself to be angry without apologizing for it.
