The Past's Unwanted Return

of our bathroom, a stark white stick with two

n her still-flat stomach. Her eyes were wide, not w

u believe it? I

feeling spreading through my chest. A miracle wasn'

ago, I had

just as it was. I loved her, and while a small part of me once imagined having a kid, her happiness was more important. So, I went to t

e that everything I had based the las

ly repeated, my voice

was the smile she used when she was trying to sell me

out the destiny

t reader. She was waving this card around, a garish picture of a woman holding a bab

ths," she said, her voice dropping to a conspirator

rstitious things. Crystals, horoscopes, energy cleanses. I found it quirk

said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We talke

t mine. Her scent, a familiar mix of lavender and vanilla, fi

Destiny found a way.

lf stiffen. My mind was racing, trying to connect dots that shouldn' t exist. The vasectomy was a fact, a me

ently. "I need

y sanctuary, felt foreign and hostile. Every object-the photos of us on the nightst

ed dreams. She was vibrant and full of life, and I was steady and devoted. We were a perfect match. Her one non-negotiable term was a child-free life.

test still clutched in her hand like a trophy.

o scared. This is a go

and a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider was chilling in an ice bucket on her dresser. It was all a perfo

ntic lighting from the candles cast long, dancing shadows

orm of confusion and suspicion in my mind. "We need to talk a

le tightening. She pres

estiny doesn' t need a

the plea in them, but underneath it, there was a fli

t let your logic ruin this beautiful moment. Don'

otion to her as a weapon to shut down my questions. My throat felt tight. I wante

of helplessness wash over me. She had cornered me, leaving me no roo

disaster she' d been warned about