THE SILENCE AFTER BETRAYAL
That evening the house was quiet. Too quiet. The children tried to act normal, but I could see the questions in their eyes. They were used to seeing food in the kitchen, hearing their mother moving around the house. Now everything felt empty. Richard came back late from work. His bicycle leaned against the wall outside. When he walked in, he looked exhausted. His uniform was dusty and his eyes were heavy. “Did the kids eat?” he asked softly. I hesitated. “We shared the last of the food earlier,” I said. He nodded slowly, trying not to show how much that hurt him. Richard sat down on the couch and rubbed his face with both hands. For a long time neither of us spoke. Finally he said quietly, “I never thought she would do this.” I didn’t know what to say. Some betrayals are too
- Writer
