My Betrayed Heart, My Stolen Life

burned into my memory. "I'll m

e living room, my movements stiff, robotic. Sarah called

arpeted steps. I had to know. I had to see th

ster bedroom-my master bedroom-I heard it. A lo

r. It was alread

ered the last remainin

ing, her head thrown back against the pillows I had bought. He leaned in and kissed her, a long, slow, linger

sound escaped my throat, something between a gasp and a groan. I stumbled

the family room, the room where I had taught Emily

on the floor, playing a board game with Mark

d!" Emily giggled, play

ning outrage. "You just

Josh said, looking up at h

were given to him. A gift

saw me standing in the doorway. The laughter died on h

she asked, her voi

r, my hands open, pleadi

s, hiding behind Mark's legs as if

stood up. He was small, but he planted his feet and

said, his little fist

d pity, the look a zookeeper might give an old, forgotten animal

er. Sarah was the mother. Emily and Josh were the children

ting the halls. The intr

iving room and looked out at the street. I could see my reflection in t

g. The sound of a dice roll. A triumphan

nds of

fa

e I was drowning. There was no place for me here. My position, my role, m