My husband invited his boss to our house, but just before he arrived, he looked at me with disgust and whispered, “Stay in the bedroom. I’m ashamed to have you seen like this. If my boss sees you, you’ll ruin my promotion.”

Mariana read the card tucked inside:

Thank you for coming back to where you belong.

That evening, she had dinner with Sergio and Daniel.

They never discussed Alejandro.

They didn’t need to.

Sergio lifted his wineglass. “I still wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t forgotten my cell phone on your side table that night.”

Mariana smiled softly as she looked toward the city lights outside. “It probably would have taken me a little longer.”

“To leave him?” Sergio asked gently.

“To remember who I was.”

A year later,