3

JUNE

I pushed the front door open slowly and stepped inside the house that had once felt like the safest place in the world. Now it felt unfamiliar and cold, like I was walking through a stranger’s life.

The silence pressed against my ears as I dropped my bag beside the couch and stood there staring blankly ahead.

Memories hit me one after another so fast it hurt.

I remembered Rick’s mother trembling with fever while I stayed awake for three nights straight taking care of her, his sister crying over anatomy textbooks while I sat beside her for hours tutoring her because she wanted to go into medicine too, and Angel curled against my chest after nightmares.

I brought her lunches at school, did her laundry, and attended her doctor appointments, parent teacher meetings, birthdays, Christmases and even family dinners.

Ten years. I'd spent ten years of giving and giving until I had nothing left of myself.

A broken laugh escaped my throat when I finally understood why Rick never wanted another child.

Every time I brought it up, he’d pull me into his arms and whisper against my forehead. “I’m terrified of ending up alone with another baby if things go wrong.”

And I believed him. God, I believed everything.

He convinced me that loving Angel was enough, that motherhood didn’t need blood, that we were already complete, and I had been happy.

Or at least I thought I was.

I sat down slowly on the couch feeling hollow inside and the hours passed without me noticing. The sky outside darkened gradually until headlights finally swept across the windows, then the front door opened.

Rick walked in first with Angel beside him, and both of them froze immediately when they saw me sitting there, like they had been caught.

My eyes moved past them, and landed on Diane. Her manicured hand rested comfortably around Rick’s arm while the other dragged a suitcase behind her.

A suitcase.

My stomach twisted violently at the sight while Rick blinked rapidly.

“June?” His voice sounded stunned. “What are you doing home?”

I stared at him, and even now, even after everything, a tiny broken part of me prayed he would finally tell the truth.

Just once. So I asked quietly. “Who is she?”

For a second, something flickered across his face. Guilt maybe, or even fear, then it disappeared completely.

“She’s a friend’s wife,” the lie slid past his mouth smoothly and I almost laughed from disbelief alone.

“A friend’s wife?” I repeated, not wanting to believe my ears.

“There’s been some trouble in their marriage,” he continued casually while stepping further inside. “She needs somewhere to stay until the divorce is settled.”

I looked at Diane and she didn’t look embarrassed, or uncomfortable. If anything, she looked amused, like she was watching a performance.

A horrible sound escaped me and it took me a second to realize I was laughing.

“June…”Rick frowned immediately but I didn't let him finish.

“You brought another woman into my house,” I said softly.

“Our house,” he corrected automatically.

No, not our house. Nothing here had ever belonged to me.

“Angel, go upstairs.” Rick sighed impatiently and walked past me with Diane still beside him. Angel hesitated as her eyes darted nervously between us, then she quietly obeyed.

I watched my daughter disappear upstairs without a word while my chest caved in slowly. Usually, she would have hugged me and told me all about her day, but I got nothing.

A few minutes later, Rick returned downstairs alone. “Come move your things from the master bedroom,” he said flatly. “Diane will stay there.”

“What?” For a moment, I genuinely thought I misheard him.

“You heard me.” His voice was firmer now. “She’ll be more comfortable there.”

“Rick.” I stood up slowly. “Why are you doing this?”

“June….” he started, but I cut him off.

“No.” My voice cracked. “Why are you suddenly changing everything? Why is another woman in our house?”

“Stop throwing a tantrum.” His jaw tightened immediately. “I already explained, so why don't you understand?”

A tantrum. I was so stunned I couldn't speak for the next couple of seconds. Ten years of my life had just been ripped apart and he called it a tantrum.

“Can you hear yourself?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re asking me to leave my own bedroom.

“You’re overreacting.”

I laughed weakly at his choice of words. That was always the trick, wasn’t it? Make me feel irrational enough and maybe I’d stop questioning him, but I was too tired now.

Without a word in his direction, I walked upstairs silently and moved my things into the guest room myself while Rick stayed downstairs with Diane and not once did he help me.

That night I lay awake staring at the ceiling in darkness. I tried to fall asleep, but no matter what I did, sleep eluded me. I had just turned and stuffed my face into the pillow when I heard it.

Soft laughter echoed through the wall, followed by a woman’s voice.

“I don’t want to keep living separately from you anymore.” Diane said and my chest tightened painfully.

Rick’s voice came quieter afterward. I don't know what I'd expected him to say, but somehow, hearing him speak still broke my heart.

“Just give me time.” he sighed.

“For what?”

Silence echoed between them, before Rick spoke up again. “Angel needs stability. Our daughter is going to need the transplant eventually,” he continued softly. “If June leaves now, we lose the only permanent solution we have.”

My stomach lurched violently, but I forced myself to remain calm.

“Are you sure?” Diane lowered her voice. “The doctor confirmed it?”

“Yes.” Rick sounded relieved. “She’s a match.”

I physically stumbled backward off the bed like someone had shoved me as my hands flew to my mouth.

Oh my God. That was why, that was why he still wanted me here. Not because he loved me, nor because he felt guilty. He wasn't even attached to me, all he needed was my bone marrow.

Angel had been diagnosed years ago with a marrow disease that required constant monitoring. I had rearranged my entire life around her diets, medications, appointments, fevers, exhaustion, and for years we managed it well enough that surgery became a distant possibility instead of an immediate reality.

I thought we were fighting it together, I thought we were family, but now, now I realized I was just useful.

Tears blurred my vision as I grabbed my phone shakily and texted my father.

Please book the earliest flight possible.

I knew for a fact that I wasn't thinking, but I didn't care, and luckily, his response came less than a minute later.

Done.

That single word broke me more than anything else had today, because he came for me immediately.

He didn't give me any conditions, no lectures, no punishment, nor did he try to run my misfortune in my face.

Just Done.

I cried silently into my pillow until morning came and I still made breakfast. I hated myself for it, but my body moved on habit now

I made eggs, toast and coffee. I told myself it was a means to distract myself as I stood silently by the stove while exhaustion settled deep into my bones. Rick was already at the table, but this time, I didn't even look at him. He pretended like I wasn't here either.

A part of me had thought that he would apologize for last night, and for the lies and deceit, but he didn't, and that only made my heart ache the more.

Then like I wasn't already going through it, Diane walked into the dining room wearing one of Rick’s shirts.

My stomach turned, but fate must have decided that I hadn't been punished enough yet as Diane glanced at the table and wrinkled her nose dramatically.

“I don’t want this, Rick. Can I have something else?”

“Really?” Rick looked up immediately. “What do you want instead?”

“Something lighter.” she muttered and he turned toward me without hesitation.

“June, can you make her something else?” I almost didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.

I stared at him, waiting for him to say it was a prank, but he didn't. Diane leaned back in her chair with the faintest smirk tugging at her lips and something inside me snapped quietly.

“She has hands,” I said calmly. “She can make it herself.”

“Excuse me?” The room went still as Rick’s expression darkened instantly.

“I said she’s a grown woman.” My voice shook slightly. “If she wants something different, she can go into the kitchen and cook it.”

Diane blinked slowly like she was entertained, but Rick, he got angry.

“She’s a guest in our home, June. Do you have to be so unreasonable? Plus Diane’s hands are meant for surgery,” he snapped. “Not kitchen work.”

The words hit me like a slap, because once upon a time, mine were too.

“No.” I swallowed hard.

Rick stared at me in disbelief, then immediately softened when he looked back at Diane.

“It’s okay,” he said gently. “I’ll buy you something on the way.”

She smiled sweetly at him, and I looked away before I threw up. My phone buzzed in my pocket then, and when I saw the notification that popped up, I heaved a sigh of relief

It was a flight confirmation with every detail from my father and I was going to be leaving tonight. I stared at the screen while my chest tightened painfully.

“I'm done.” Rick pushed his untouched plate away. “I lost my appetite.”

Rick headed upstairs to change for work after that and the moment he disappeared, Diane looked at me across the table, and smiled.

“You know he never loved you, right?”

“In case you somehow still haven’t figured it out,” I went still as she continued casually, “I’m Angel’s mother.”

I didn’t respond, and she took that as a sign to continue.

“I’m not a guest here either.” She leaned back confidently. “I’m the lady of this house. You might not believe it, but I actually feel sorry for you.” Diane tilted her head mockingly. “You really wasted ten years of your life clinging to a man who doesn’t want you. What’s even sadder,” I still didn't speak as she continued. Instead, I found my balance by gripping the edge of the table hard. “is how grateful you seemed just to play house. Answer me this, will you?” I stood slowly, as she kept going. “When was the last time Rick even touched you?”

That did it and before I could stop myself, my hand flew across her face. The slap echoed sharply through the room.

Diane gasped, then immediately burst into tears. It was the perfect timing because Rick stormed back downstairs seconds later.

“What the hell happened?”

“Ask her.” Diane covered her cheek dramatically, sobs raking through her chest. “She hit me.”

“What the hell has gotten into you, June?” Rick turned toward me with fury blazing across his face. “Are you insane?”

“Seriously Rick?” I stared at him. “You’re not even going to ask why?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Those words shattered something final inside me. Rick stepped closer, lowering his voice sharply. “Why don’t you kneel and apologize.”.

“What?” I froze. “You can't be serious.”

“You heard me. Apologize to Diane, right now.” I couldn’t breathe, but all he did was lean closer near my ear. “Don’t make this worse,” he muttered quietly. “I’ll make it up to you later after she leaves.”

The way the words slid past his lips was even more infuriating, like I was a child throwing a fit, like I should be grateful for scraps.

Tears burned my eyes, and suddenly, I was just tired. So tired of everything going on.

“Fine.” I nodded slowly while Diane watched me smugly. I looked directly at her, then at Rick, and softly said: “I’m sorry, Diane. Happy?”

Neither of them noticed the finality in my tone, but Rick relaxed immediately and Diane smiled victoriously.

I almost pitied them for not realizing they had already lost me. When they finally left the house, I walked upstairs quietly. I packed my belongings carefully, making sure I took everything that mattered.

Then I gathered every framed photograph I could find. Wedding pictures, family vacations, birthday souvenirs and pictures from our Christmas mornings.

Ten years of lies smiling back at me from glossy paper. I carried them outside one by one, and burned them. The flames swallowed our fake life slowly while tears streamed silently down my face.

When the last photograph turned to ash, I walked away from the house without looking back.