My Beautiful, Hard-Won Life

him on the sofa, watching cartoons, my mind miles away. I thought of the yea

n it to me on a beautiful, sunny day in a park, promising me a lifetime of l

light and bare. The gold band and the heavy stone were symbols of a bo

city, a place known for discreet, high-end transactions. I placed the ring o

," he said, looking up

replied, my

, enough to give me and Liam a solid cushion

ake it,

sense of release, of cutting the final, glittering tie to my old life. Thi

, Liam and I would leave this city. We would go back to my hometown, a quiet place by th

botics club at his elementary school. It was run by a famous engineer, and the spots were incredibly limited. Liam, with his shar

day at the club. Instead, I found him sitting alone on a bench, his little shoulders slumped

How was the club?" I asked

said I'm not in it anymore. Th

. There must be a mistake,

rl who was Liam's age. The girl, Lily, was chattering excitedly, swinging a bran

od ran

, sweetie?" Chloe was saying in a sickly-sweet voice. "You h

saw me and Liam. His smi

oice was a small,

look on his face. "Sarah. Liam

" I said, my voice dangerously calm. "They said it was

the waitlist, and she was very disappointed. Her last sch

g. "He earned his spot, Michael! He worked for it! Yo

wide with dawning comprehension. The little trophy

Liam said, his voice trem

s just an after-school club, Sarah. Don't be so dramatic. Liam can find something els

He was already replacing me, replacing our fa

out you taking something from your own son to please

sed, glancing around the schoo

ice, determined to speak to the club organizer, to fix t

ritted teeth. "It's done. You're just

ed to pull away, but

don't be so upset. We're so grateful. Thank you for being so unders

to mock me. Michael, hearing her, tightened his grip

e commanded. "Stop

ophy on the ground. The sight shattered what was left of my composure. I stopped fighting, limp in his gras