Life had a funny way of teaching you lessons the hard way. You thought you were in love once. You thought you found someone who cared. But five months into your relationship, two pink lines changed everything. And just like that, he was gone—transferred schools, blocked your number, vanished like you never even existed.

You were humiliated. You had ignored every warning Chris, Matt, and Nick gave you. You swore they were wrong, that he loved you. But they had been right all along.

And still, even after everything, they never said “I told you so.”

Especially Chris.

He was the one who held your hair back when morning sickness hit. He was the one who came with you to every doctor’s appointment. He was the one holding your hand when Charlie came into the world.

Now, a year later, you were exhausted.

Reason one: Charlie refused to sleep. She was teething, which meant she screamed all night. And every time you felt like you couldn’t take it anymore, Chris would scoop her up, rock her, hum softly until she finally dozed off. You couldn’t even do that!

Reason two: You were drowning in responsibilities—school, work, bills. You barely had time to breathe. Chris kept telling you to let him help, but you hated relying on him more than you already did.

Reason three: You were feeling things you weren’t supposed to. Things that made your stomach flip when Chris smiled at you. Feelings that made you hyper-aware of how he always put you and Charlie first.

You were trying to ignore all of it when you sat Charlie down and smiled softly.

“Can you say Mama?”

Charlie stared at you, then turned to Chris.

“Dada!”

You both froze. Your breath caught in your throat. Chris stiffened beside you.

“No, baby,” you said quickly. “That’s not—”

But Charlie just giggled, reaching for him.

Chris looked at you, something unreadable in his eyes.

And deep down, you wished—Charlie wasn’t wrong.