The Last Thing I Gave Him
On my thirtieth birthday, someone placed a photograph of my husband and another woman among my gifts.
Dante Rossetti had his arm around Serena Caruso, the young singer he claimed was only a business investment. Every guest at the Don’s feast watched me, waiting for me to cry, break down, or chase after him like I always had.
But this time, I only turned the photograph face down and cut the cake.
For three months, Dante had been coming home late for Serena’s performances, Serena’s troubles, and Serena’s future. He said he was protecting the family’s investment. He said she was the next big thing.
I believed him until the night I needed him most.
When my pregnancy took a dangerous turn, I called Dante for help.
He never came.
That night, I lost the child we had both once treasured.
After that, I went to the Rossetti matriarch and made one request.
I wanted my marriage dissolved.
Dante thought I would always forgive him. He thought I would always wait for him to come home.
He was wrong.
I left with nothing but the pieces of my broken life.
Only after I disappeared did Dante learn the truth.
The child he had promised to protect was gone.
The wife who had loved him for five years was gone.
And for the first time, Dante Rossetti realized that the one person who would have stayed by his side forever was the one person he had pushed away.