"I have to take this contract out of state, Claire. Just one year. When I get back, we’ll finally have the down payment for the house."

We’d been married for over two years, crammed into a tiny one-bedroom rental on Chicago’s West Side. Dominic dropped this news on me the exact same day he moved his paralyzed grandmother, Evelyn, and his grade-school-aged sister, Lily, into our apartment.

"I need you to look after Evelyn and Lily," he had said, bags already packed. "It’s just temporary. We’re family, Claire. You’re the only one I trust with them."

Then he walked out the door.

From that day on, I became a single mother and a full-time nurse. I managed Evelyn’s daily care, handled Lily’s school drop-offs and pick-ups, cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, and somehow squeezed in my freelance copywriting jobs just to keep us afloat.

I was running on fumes, burning myself out day and night.

At first, Dominic texted to ask how I was holding up. But soon, his excuses became a broken record. The project is too demanding. I'm swamped. Even his phone calls dwindled to almost nothing.

I survived that grueling year, only to receive another text.

Project isn't wrapping up. Might need to stay another year.

I believed him. Until Lily’s birthday approached, and I saw the messages light up on her child's Apple Watch.

Vanessa and I are picking you up at the usual spot on Friday for your birthday dinner.

Tell Claire you’re sleeping over at Emma’s house.

Don't let her find out.

That was how I learned his out-of-state contract was a lie.

He had been in Chicago the entire time.

~~~~~

I stared at the chat history on the Apple Watch, my fingertips trembling against the cold glass.

No wonder Lily barely touched her dinner on certain nights after school. I'd tortured myself, thinking my cooking just wasn't good enough.

Dominic had already taken her out to eat. Of course she wasn't hungry.

And last fall—Lily had come home practically buzzing with excitement, holding two iced coffees like she’d found treasure.

"Claire, Dominic got us drinks!" she had beamed, handing me one.

I had laughed, teasing, "He actually remembered to order us something?"

Looking back, Dominic hadn't bought those drinks.

The woman named Vanessa did. She had even been thoughtful enough to buy one for me.

A faint voice drifted from the bedroom.

"Claire..."

I snapped out of it, pressing the watch screen dark.

I swallowed the surge of fury and betrayal, plastered on my usual calm expression, and walked briskly into Evelyn’s room.

She lay in bed, her skin sallow, her eyes heavy with the apology she wore every day.

Moving on autopilot, I pulled out a fresh waterproof pad and an adult diaper. I cleaned her, changed her, wrung out a warm towel for a sponge bath, and gently massaged her stiff, atrophied limbs.

I had done this so many times over the past year it had become pure muscle memory.

Evelyn looked at me, her speech slurred. "I'm sorry, Claire... you do so much..."

I forced the corners of my mouth up. "It’s fine, Evelyn."

A little while later, Lily ran out in her pajamas, her face flushed with poorly hidden excitement.

"Claire, I want to tell you something."

"Emma’s having a birthday sleepover this Friday. She invited me. Can I go?"

Silence stretched. I curled my fingers into my palms, then slowly released them.

"Of course you can," I said, offering a bright smile. "Just be polite, listen to Emma's mom, and don't cause any trouble, okay?"

Lily nodded furiously, practically vibrating with joy. "You’re the best, Claire!"

She sprinted back to her room, the door slamming shut behind her.

I stood in the center of the room, feeling entirely hollowed out.

I had raised this child for a year. She was innocent, completely unguarded. But right now, her innocence felt like a dull blade, slowly sawing through my chest.

I lay awake staring at the ceiling until dawn.