My husband Jake was laid off earlier this year. Since then I have been working full-time to keep our family stable while he stayed home with our five-year-old daughter Ellie. I thought everything was fine until last week. We were sitting at the kitchen table planning Ellie’s birthday party when she suddenly looked up, eyes sparkling, and said she wanted to invite the pretty lady who visits Daddy when I’m at work. She described long hair, kind words, and goodbye hugs. Something inside my chest cracked quietly. I kept my voice light and told her to invite the woman next time she came.

That night I did not sleep. The next afternoon Ellie cheerfully announced that the pretty lady had said she was definitely coming. The days leading up to the party blurred together. Jake acted normal while I rehearsed a dozen endings to my marriage.