The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

But he came at the wrong time.

If I brought him into this world, his life would never be a happy one.

It's better for him to leave now than to suffer with me.

I glanced at my phone, and it was filled with messages and calls from Antonio.

"Grace! Stop pretending, okay? If you're looking for an excuse, at least make it a good one. Stop being so pathetic!

"You're seriously angry over some baby stuff? I haven't even mentioned how the cheap baby products you bought gave the baby a rash! What's there to be upset about?"

Even though I had already let him go in my heart, seeing those messages made my eyes sting with tears again.

This was the man I had loved for so many years.

And in the end, all that was left was exhaustion.

***

On the fifth day in the hospital, I was discharged.

I requested a two-week sick leave and decided to take some time away.

I had the divorce papers drawn up, signed them, packed my things, and moved out of Antonio's place that night.

As I was putting the last suitcase in the car, I heard his voice.

Chateral

"Grace!"

a moment but

the car door and tried

ready to let me

stormed up to me. grabbed my

my calls, not responding to my messages! You seriously

now. Are you happy now? Can you stop bothering me? I'm busy, I don't have time for your

face still carried the pale traces of my exhaustion. I

reaching up to touch my gaunt

flicker of regret.

you

pretending." I snapped,

I was cold, unfeeling.

go to work. You

go

a business trip. Do you really think I'm this stupid?

still, his eyes full of

fumbled for words, but couldn't

staring into his eyes with

Year's Eve. I performed a C-section. The

plan to keep lying to me? That so-called

just an excuse

her?"

took a few

stunned expression

as I yanked on

exposing the dark, familiar hickeys

everything.

wasted all those years loving