Without waiting for a response, I turned and rushed to my room, slamming the door behind me. And then I broke. I collapsed onto the floor, my body wracked with silent, gut-wrenching sobs.
I had lost everything. My husband. My son. My family.
Why? Why wasn’t I enough?
Why was I the one suffering while they got to be happy?
I curled into myself, the pain in my head throbbing violently, mixing with the unbearable ache in my heart. I didn’t know how long I lay there, drowning in despair, before I fumbled for my phone.
There was only one person left I could call. With shaking hands, I dialed. The line rang twice before a familiar, steady voice answered.
"Emma?"
A choked sob escaped me. "Ethan… please help me."
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.
"Emma, what happened?" His voice was tight with concern.
"Jason… Noah… they—" My throat tightened. "They don’t need me anymore. I have nothing left, Ethan. Nothing."
"Emma, listen to me," Ethan said firmly. "You have me. And I’m not going to let you go through this alone."
Tears spilled down my face.
"Come to me," he urged. "I’ll help you disappear. I’ll get you out of there."
A pause. Then his voice softened.