I was no longer the center of his world and it hurt more than I wanted to admit. The day I realized I was becoming obsolete, I took a sick day from work, hoping rest would ease my persistent cough. I spent the day lying in bed, struggling with the constant discomfort and dread of what was to come. My mind replayed Jeremiah’s increasingly frequent absences, each one a silent reminder of how I was being pushed to the periphery.
The next day, I reluctantly went to the hospital for a prescription of strong cough medicine. I had been coughing persistently at night, which was affecting my sleep. The hospital visit felt like a mundane routine in the midst of my chaotic life. When I left the hospital, it was already dark. Just as I was about to take a taxi home, my phone buzzed. It was Jeremiah.
After hesitating, I answered. His voice on the other end was odd. “Joanna, what are you trying to do? You’re avoiding me over something minor and secretly sleeping with another man!” The accusation hit me like a thunderclap.
I was shocked. “What are you talking about? What do you mean, sleeping with another man?”