Chapter 4

"Let's go, Emery."

Emery snapped out of whatever he was thinking and gave me a complicated look, but he said nothing in the end. "Coming!"

The door closed with a slam, and I finally got over the pain to take out my phone to call my superior. "Three days is too long. I'd like to leave tonight."

When he heard how hoarse my voice was, he was silent for a few seconds before agreeing to my request right away. "All right. Pack your things. I'll get someone to give you a ride."

I started packing my luggage after hanging up. I took every piece of clothing I could, and whatever I could not take with me, I stuffed into the garbage bag to be thrown away the next day. I also went through all the toys and books I bought for Micah over the years and stuffed them into the bag.

At the bottom of everything, I found a metal box containing the memorabilia of my eight-year marriage to Emery. It had my first pregnancy report and footprints of Micah when he was born. I found the first necklace Emery bought me and a yellowed picture inside.

In the picture, I was carrying my newborn son and leaning against Emery's shoulders, smiling happily. Emery was sitting next to my bed, looking cool and composed, but he had a small smile on his face that he probably did not realize.

I was in pain that entire night, and Emery stayed by my side for a full day and night. I thought that my wait for a happy family was over, and I had finally had one.

Thinking back about this made me feel how naive I was once.

I poured out the contents of the metal box and tore the pregnancy report. I cut the picture to pieces and left only what belonged to me. Anything that belonged to Emery and Micah went into the garbage bag.

My phone buzzed. It was a notification of Marsha adding Winnie to the family group chat.

[Winnie will be a part of our family now. She has a soft personality, and you're not allowed to bully her, Nora.]

This was followed by Emery's text.

[That settles it. I bought four plane tickets to Sandberg. Mom, Micah, Winnie, and I will be going there for a holiday. Please take care of the house, Nora. We'll get you a present when we're back.]

Micah shared a voice note of him cheering. "It's great without Mom around! Dad's the best!"

Winnie shared a giggling emoji with its hand over its mouth.

Everyone in the chat group chatted about this happily while I stared at my phone screen for a long time before typing a text.

[Micah, you're sure you don't want me anymore, right?]

There were several seconds of silence before Marsha sent a voice note. "Are you crazy, Nora? You shouldn't scare a child like that. Everyone was right when they said you were unpresentable!"

Emery sent another text: [You've taken this too far, Nora. Stop venting your anger on a child.]

Winnie quickly followed up with a voice note, sounding soft and even a little sad. [Nora, Micah is still young. Just come at me if you're angry. Don't do this to him…]

I stared at the voice note as my finger lingered above my phone, but I did nothing.

Not long after, Micah shared a video of him hugging Winnie's arm and grunting angrily. "You're right. I don't want you. I want Ms. Linberg to be my mom!"

Micah's declaration was like a knife to my heart that sliced away the last of my love for him.

After I watched the video, I replied: [All right.]

I left the group chat and called my superior. "You can pick me up now."