His Secret Wife, His Public Shame

rst open again. Evelin swept in, a radiant smil

he chirped, waving the pape

t report under his nose, her

e paper, then at her, his face

t?" he w

en't you happy? Or are you still thinking abo

velin, his hands on her waist, his voice suddenly frantic and overjo

d overwhelming. He lifted her off the ground and spun

gnant with his child, and his reaction was disgust and denial. Evelin w

. He loved her.

vestiges of hope, of love, of Ben, died in that moment.

his face alight with excitement. He carried Evelin towards the door, his eyes fixe

his shoulder and gave me a fina

and I was alone

hospital phone

women's health clinic. "I'd like to sch

. I'm sorry, little one, I thought. I'm so sorry. But I can'

apartment that held two years of memories. With a

ks, the cheap coffee mug he love

ing it together. It was missing one piece, a corner of the blue sky, which we could

sign that our happiness wa

e by piece, I dismantled th

He'd been so proud of it. He told me he'd learned to knit just for me. Another lie.

t on fire. I watched the flames consume the ya

mpty the apartment of ev

the last time, my phone rang. I

tt is here. She's demanding to see you. She says you'r

eyes. It n

e don't comply," my boss continued, his voice strained. "Addis

ds... they would lose t

aid, my voice heav

Bernard by her side. She was sm

ing me a great honor. "And since I'm pregnant, you ne

ssible," I said, maintain

ernard!" she whined, turni

ense look, pulled out his phone. He was annoyed by my

he phone, his eyes never leaving mine. "I want to report t

nic and the careers of my frien

no c

voice a dead whis

sfied smile of victory,

ic and into his car, a prisoner