I Was Lifting Our Heavy Mattress to Search for an Earring I Had Dropped Behind the Bedframe – I Expected to Find Some Dust, but What Was Carefully Taped Beneath His Side of the Mattress Made Me Slowly Sit Down on the Uncovered Floor

bracing for another woman.

For lipstick on a collar, for a second phone. I had rehearsed how to leave.

But what I had actually married was a man too afraid of his own shadow to let me love him properly.

I picked up my car keys.

“Clarissa, wait…”

I didn’t tell Ethan where I was going.

I had rehearsed how to leave.

***

I drove three hours north to the address continue reading …