04/15/2026
The day started like any other, but by afternoon, my entire world lay in shards around me. Our son, Leo, had been counting down to his fifth birthday for months. Every morning he’d wake up, a little clock in his head ticking loudly towards "party time." We’d spent weeks planning, picking out the perfect superhero theme he adored. My husband, Mark, seemed just as excited, always talking about how special we’d make it. We’d bought so many thoughtful gifts, things Leo had wished for since Christmas. The living room was bursting with colorful wrapping paper and bows. It felt like a dream, a bubble of pure joy just waiting to pop open. I remember looking at Mark, thinking how lucky I was to have a partner who cared so much. He promised he’d take care of the last-minute errands, giving me time to bake Leo’s favorite cake...