Husband's Lies, Mistress's Son

forgotten place, nestled deep in the woods, far from prying eyes. The air was

he dense forest, when a car crunched up the

of stale alcohol preceded him. "Elenora?" he slurred, his voice thic

I recoiled. The touch of his regret was more repulsive

awing. A stick figure family, with three smiling faces. Arthur, Karin, a

. This was his "happy family," the one he chose over me, over

is eyes darting to mine. "It's, uh, wo

from the speaker. "Daddy! Is the ugly lady gone yet? Mommy

de with a mixture of fear and guilt. "Leo... he doesn't understand, Elenora," h

y voice devoid of warmth

n to form in my mind. I needed

I even managed a faint, melancholic smile. "I understand. You m

glimmer of hope in his

oft, almost tender. "We need to t

oom was at the far end of the house, isolated. He co

essly tossed on a chair. I plunged my hand into its pockets. My fingers bru

more sinister. It depicted a woman, her face crossed out, falling into deep

tantrum. This was a blueprint. A wish. And Karin, I knew, was more than capable of maki