Ten minutes before our wedding, I heard my fiancé tell his sister, “Don’t worry about daycare anymore. Natalie will take care of all three kids starting Monday.”

I almost agreed to care for the children on Monday.

Then I recognized that giving in was exactly what he’d anticipated.

THE CHOICE

I barely slept Saturday night.

Several times, I woke in my apartment and instinctively reached toward the other side of the bed before remembering Seth wasn’t there.

We hadn’t lived together yet.

My belongings were supposed to move into his townhouse at month’s end.

I’d already packed four boxes.

One contained kitchen items, another books, and a third winter clothes.

The fourth held purchases for our married life: matching towels, new sheets, and two mugs labeled Mr. and Mrs.

Standing beside them Sunday morning, I briefly wanted to smash the mugs.

Instead, I brewed coffee.

Then I sat at the kitchen table crying until it turned cold.

Mom called around nine.

“Have you eaten anything?”

“Not really.”

“I’m bringing breakfast.”