04/13/2026
My heart still aches just thinking about it, like a phantom limb pain from a life I used to have. I thought we had it all, the perfect suburban dream, two kids, a house, and a love that felt unshakeable. He was my rock, my best friend, the person who knew me better than anyone else. Every morning, he’d kiss me goodbye before heading to his demanding job, phone always in hand. He had his “work phone,” a clunky old model, separate from his personal one, which he said was for client privacy and late-night calls. I never questioned it, not once, because why would I question the man I trusted with my entire existence? Looking back, there were whispers of doubt, fleeting shadows I dismissed as my own insecurities. He’d be distant sometimes, lost in thought, then snap back with an overly affectionate gesture. Longer hours, mysterious meetings, trips he used to complain about suddenly became essential. I remember thinking he was just stressed, trying harder for our family, always finding an excuse...