My husband canceled our anniversary dinner because his ex “needed him.” When I asked for boundaries, he laughed and called me jealous. I said, “Okay,” accepted an out-of-state job, packed, and watched his secret unravel.

I stared at him.

“And?”

“She needs somebody to talk to.”

“We have dinner reservations.”

He exhaled like I was creating an unnecessary problem.

“Maya, it’s dinner.”Anniversaries

“It’s our tenth anniversary.”

“She’s dealing with something.”

Claire was always dealing with something.

Her car wouldn’t start.

Her boyfriend upset her.

Her mother said something insensitive.

She couldn’t sleep.

She needed help moving furniture.

There was always another emergency.

And somehow, my husband was always on call.

I crossed my arms.

“I’m not asking you to stop speaking to her. I’m

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