From Perfect Wife to Unseen Shadow

head of schedule, a rare win in the world of architecture. The first thing I

to surp

he would wait up for me. No matter

ce when he saw me. A sm

ver, Uncle Bob,

early. Can you pick m

course, Sarah. I'll be right there. Does

voice full of excitement. "I

ce," Uncle Bob chuckled. "Al

he car, I sent

project went perfe

ately, like he always did. But t

ney. I'm with a few friends discussing a new venture

t was unlike him. But

Uncle Bob asked fro

member David mentioning his friends always

e him. Even ju

receptionist recognized me and sm

hompson. He's with some friends. Can

oment. Yes, they are in the Pres

was silent, covered in thick carpet. As I approached the sui

voice. It was Mark,

tion is about to go public, and now you've g

art s

a

giggled. "It's all thank

. It was Emily, D

or. My whole body went

nd's voice. A voice I

tone light and casual. "Emily

er friend asked. "How are you

was a sound that m

It's been a sore spot for her. This is perfect. Once the baby is born, I'll tell

nt. "She' ll love this child as her own, a

voices, they all faded away. All I coul

too much. He said he didn't want me to suffer the pain of childbirth. He said

without children,

s all

my everything, was a liar. And his fr

leaned against the cold wal

as a joke. My perfect

r, silent. I couldn't let

elevator, my body numb.

y face and was alarmed. "Sarah?

e to speak. The words

y more questions

igned myself. Every corner of it was filled with me

s pictures were everywhere. Our wedding

don't know why. Maybe I wanted to he

g. "Honey? Is everything okay

as full of

" I managed to say, my voi

home as soon as I can. Just a little more work. Go t

ung

from him. "My world is empty witho

age, and a bitter la

nt relative who didn't care for me. I worked hard, got into

ness in my life. He pursued me for two years. He learned everything about me. He knew I love

he learned about traditional medicine

world. My own assistant used to say, "Sarah,

it. I truly

would be too hard on my body. He held me and said, "You are m

ay, feeling like the most

years of my life, built

out of my chest, stomped on, and throw

cold, empty house I had designed

s life. But not before he