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!"

froze for a moment but didn't turn

car door and tried

Antonio wasn't ready to

to me. grabbed my

my calls, not

Are you happy now? Can you stop bothering

face still carried the pale traces of my exhaustion. I looked at

his hand reaching up to touch my gaunt

flicker of regret.

have you gotten so

pretending." I snapped, pulling his hand

I was cold, unfeeling.

didn't go to work. You

go

think I'm this stupid? Antonio, do you feel proud of tricking

still, his eyes full of

fumbled for words, but couldn't

staring into

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

plan to keep lying to me? That

it just an

her?"

took a

stunned

as I yanked on

the dark, familiar hickeys

everything. You

all those