My husband sent another woman a huge bouquet of white roses and pink peonies with a card signed “Love, Daniel,” and by one careless mistake, those flowers arrived at our house instead.

flowers to another woman while coming home to me. The label he put on it mattered less than what he had taken from our everyday marriage.

Finally I asked, “Are you still going tomorrow?” He clarified, “To the conference?”

“Yes.” He admitted, “I don’t know.” I told him, “Don’t.” He asked, “Because you don’t want me around her?”

“No.” Looking at the empty side of the bed, I explained, “Because if you go, you’ll tell yourself work forced you into the same building. You’ll tell yourself you have to talk.