My husband promised he would pick me up after the ER discharged me. Instead, I stepped into the hospital pickup lane and found a text saying he had already left for his parents’ anniversary trip and that I should call a ride. I might have believed it was a last-minute decision—until his sister messaged me before I even made it home.

Kara’s message arrived while my rideshare was still pulling away from St. Vincent’s.

Thanks for being cool about Caleb coming. Mom was already upset he might miss the anniversary weekend.

I read it twice.

Then I replied:

I didn’t tell him to go.

The typing bubble appeared, vanished, then returned.