I Aborted Our Baby The Day He Celebrated His Mistress Birthday Chapter 08

I Aborted Our Baby The Day He Celebrated His Mistress Birthday Chapter 08

After taking a month off, I started at the new company. Better pay, a senior position. My main job was

training the junior designers.

I

Most days were spent mentoring the new hires. In my downtime, I sketched – whatever I wanted, just for

myself. It was the calmest my life had been in years.

I got used to eating alone. Wandering the grocery store alone. Spending evenings alone – and finding, slowly,

that I didn’t mind.

For the first time, my life felt like it actually fit me. Two years passed.

The memories faded. Julian’s face faded with them. I was promoted to Design Director.

The company threw a small celebration. Standing on that stage, applause washing over me, I let myself

stand a little taller.

I had a career I was proud of, an apartment with room to breathe, and people around me who actually

showed up. On weekends I went to galleries, took long walks, did whatever I wanted.

No more lying awake at night over someone’s half–hearted answers. No more draining myself dry trying to

compete for attention I should never have had to earn.

Every now and then, word trickled back from old coworkers. Julian had been tearing the country apart looking for me. Everyone at the old office knew where I was not one of them told him.

In two years, he’d been everywhere. Quit his job. Gave up our apartment. Moved into a studio with nothing in

it.
Everything I’d left behind – he’d packed it all up and carried it with him, city to city.

He cut Harper off completely. She showed up crying more than once. He turned her away every time – no

warmth, no hesitation.

No one ever saw the cheap leather cord around his neck again.

He started wearing his wedding ring again. He’d lost so much weight it barely stayed on – it just spun loose

around his knuckle.

Our mutual friends told him to stop. She’s gone, they said. She’s not coming back.

He didn’t argue. Just sat there, bloodshot eyes lowered, quiet for a long time. Then: “But I just miss her.”

When I heard that, I felt almost nothing.

I figured he’d look for a while, hit enough dead ends, and quit. Patience had never been his thing.

I never expected him to actually find me.