His Secret Shame

hree times a day, a week of feeling like a ghost in my own apartment. The silence from him was a

phone rang. It was one of Li

Uh, is Liam

rk. He'

a mess. Way too drunk to drive. We can't get him in an U

of responsibility washed

. Liam was slumped on a bench, his head in his hands, mum

e didn't know w

e beer and his wordless shame. I half-carried him into the apartm

icked it up. My first instinct was to check it. I tried hi

s. So arrogant. What would be the most obvious, st

: 1-2-3

one un

o. I scrolled through the recent transactions. Sandwiches, beers, Uber rides...

loe Ri

or your acti

was a setup. He had paid her to come over and make me look crazy.

e more. He was too careful to use regular texts. He' d once told me he used Instag

Richards. A curated feed of beach vacations, expensive

here

Flirty texts, inside jokes, pictures

lately. I don't k

t, baby. You'll

to have you

strange detachment, like I was watching a movie about someone else's life.

ssage, sent the day aft

A confirmation of a n

es to Austin City Limits.

aced my nam

f heart emojis. "OMG! Best b

just leave me. He didn't just cheat on me. He stole our anniversary

a woman with tired eyes and long, safe hair she'd had since college.

inside m

anym

ing to be near him. The next morning, I w

ntment for a cut. As soon as po