Chapter 3

We’d just turned down a quiet alley near the restaurant when he stopped cold.

He looked back—and my stomach dropped.

His eyes were wild. Full of hate.

“Carmen, you knew how dangerous it was out here. And you let Linda run off alone? How could I have married someone so heartless? She shouldn’t be dead—it should’ve been you!”

Before I could move, he shoved me straight into an open manhole. I clawed at the edge, trying to pull myself out.

Mia screamed and reached for me.

“And you, you little brat! If you hadn’t cried that night, the neighbors wouldn’t have shown up—I could’ve saved her! You can die too!”

He kicked her.

She slammed into me, and I lost my grip.

We fell.

No time to scream. Just freezing, filthy water rushing in. No air. Just panic.

We drowned, wide awake the whole time.

Even now, alive again, that same cold fear still sits in my chest.

So this time, I said nothing. Just held Mia close and watched them play happy couple.

After drying off, Joshua told me to make tea for Linda.

I went to the kitchen without a word.

Mia tugged my sleeve. “Mommy, why’s Daddy sitting on our bed with another lady?”

I brushed her cheek. “Baby, don’t ask. Just be quiet, okay?”

She nodded, still confused.

After tea, they launched into the same dumb debate from before—who should take the bed.

This time, I cut in. “You two take it. Get some rest. You’ve got class tomorrow.”

I started laying out a mat on the floor.

Joshua paused. “Relax. It’s nothing—it’s just a student-teacher thing. And you’re here…”

“I believe you,” I said, not even looking up. “Go to sleep. I’m tired.”

I lay down with Mia, turned my back to them, and shut my eyes.

Thunder rolled outside, echoing the storm inside me.

In the dark, I heard them whispering.

“Mr. Ziegler, not there—it tickles. Ah—stop, they’ll wake up.”

“It’s fine. She sleeps like a rock. She’s out.”

Then came the sound of kissing. Right by my ear.

“Ah, that feels so good.”

“Linda, I love you. I wish I could melt into you.”

Tears slid down my face.

Mia’s eyes were wide in the dark. I covered her ears so she wouldn’t hear any more of it.

Next morning, Joshua kicked us awake.

“Go grab breakfast. Linda likes her coffee sweet—don’t forget the sugar.”

I took Mia out, came back with food.

They ate, then left—together. From our apartment.

Finally, I could breathe.

I looked around at the apartment I’d poured every piece of myself into. The tears hit hard.

Mia reached up and wiped them with her tiny hands.

I gave the place one last look.

“Mia, we’re leaving. We don’t need Daddy anymore. Okay?”

“Okay.”

We packed our things and walked out.

I never looked back.