The Contract We Never Honored

arly spring morning that coaxed daffodils from the thawed earth and joggers back into Grant Pa

and heart tapping out a reluctant rhythm. Pedestrians bustled past in crisp coats and coffee-fueled m

voice pulled hi

d by the automatic doors, cl

following her inside

wasn't enough to mask the cold purpose of the place. Jonathan sat beneath a framed photo of the C

one vi

tonight. We're doing th

st ambition, clean lines, and mutual freedom. Their life was a showroom-designer furniture, art

d from thoughtful to cold. He couldn't name it. But he'd see

?" the nurse

et's get thi

ted. The procedure was faster than he fear

Dr. Greene, donning latex gloves. "

n didn'

A few incisions. A few

y, peeling off his gloves. "You're o

augh. "Guess I should th

ep out to greet him. She was on her phone, sunglasses perched high, scrolling thr

she asked as

one," h

We're f

as if seeing her for

he road. "That's what

almond milk. But Jonathan couldn't shake the feeling tha

ing. He brought her tea. She barely looked up. No embrace. No celebration. Just silen

old habit from their earlier years when date nights still mattered. Vanessa walked in from th

cheek. No warmth. No h

e asked, pouring her

said everythin

done with t

edge of her cheekbones and the

what you wan

thout sipping. "Jon, we've t

d dou

yebrow. "Now? A

sure this week. Y

ure. We're not the parenting type. We'r

oiled. The words sounded like a lin

ight filtered through the windows, his mind spiraling. Around midnight, he got

blinked in the cor

ee you again. Sa

d the email. There was a folder l

pene

gs. Photographs. Messa

Three nights. Repeate

trust. She had staged the performance of a lifetime-wh

kitchen table. Sunlight spilled across the hardwood flo

ay before. Her heels clicked quietly on the floor. Her mak

ome home," he

She dropped her purse on the

ded so

D.H.," he sa

ed but did

e photos. The reserva

e table. Pages fluttered out-ev

nto a chai

id, voice like gravel. "Before

red finally. "I thought I coul

bility to be a father... while planning

r. I never planned to fall for him

nd you thought what? I'd thank you for freeing me from

s, but he saw no rem

ped loving yo

ack. "You just stopped ho

g more. The silence between th

ssa stood motionl

will

rever it is, it'll be some

overre

eyes locked on her

walk away, expre

k, but the dull ache of reality. There are wounds deeper than betr

nored the

er inte