disappointed

It was late at night. My stomach was cramping so badly I had to call Ethan.

“Look, I can’t leave right now. Why don’t you just take some pain meds? The power’s out at Ashley’s, and she’s freaked out being there alone with the kids. I gotta make sure they're okay.”

I opened my notes app and added a tally mark: 77.

That was the 77th time he'd ditched me for Ashley and her kids.

…

July 7th. My birthday. Our anniversary. Every year, Ethan and I made a big deal out of it.

So, on July 6th, I was excitedly telling Ethan about my plans for the next day.

“Let’s go to that glassblowing workshop! Remember how you loved that? Then we can finally try that steakhouse you’ve been wanting to go to. And there’s that new movie out, the one you’ve been waiting for, we could…”

I was rattling off ideas, brimming with excitement.

Ethan cut me off, a pained expression on his face.

“Anna, I don’t think I can make it. Ashley said they’re having a parent-kid field day at Zach’s school, and she can’t manage both kids on her own, so I need to be there.”

The smile froze on my face. “Ashley again?”

Ethan stayed silent. The words were piling up in my chest, choking me. “Couldn’t she just not participate in the events? What exactly is your role in their little family field day? Doesn't she have any other friends?”

Ethan frowned at me.

“I practically raised Zach. He’ll make a scene if someone else goes with them.” A soft look spread across his face as he thought about Zach. Then, turning back to me, his brow furrowed again. “He’s just a kid, Anna. Don’t be so petty.”

My face went cold. I turned and walked toward the bedroom.

Ethan grabbed my arm. “Anna! Enough already! It’s just an anniversary. I can make it up to you later! Ashley’s having a hard time, she asked me for help, how could I say no?”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with disappointment. “You’re being so childish. No wonder your parents abandoned you.”

I stared at him, my heart plummeting into my stomach.

Three years ago, when he proposed, we were discussing wedding dates. He suggested my birthday.

Hesitantly, I told him that my parents had abandoned me on my birthday. They'd taken me to McDonald's, promising a birthday treat, then pretended to go get a cake and never came back.

He’d held my hand, his eyes full of sympathy.

“Anna,” he'd said, “I know something bad happened to you on your birthday. Let’s get married then. A new, happy memory will replace the old one. That way, you won’t think about being abandoned, you’ll only think about us.”

I’d shown him my most vulnerable wound, and now he was using it against me.

Numbly, I asked, “Give me a timeline. When will you be able to focus on our own family again?”

He stammered, avoiding my gaze. “Well, I… you can take care of yourself. We don’t have kids yet. But Ashley and Zach, they need me.”

Seeing my expression, he added weakly, “Maybe when we have a kid, or when Zach’s a little older…”

My heart sank. Exhaustion washed over me. “Fine. Go to...