Emma woke at 7:42AM with the familiar sticky warmth between her thighs and the heavy, aching pull in her chest. The baby monitor was quiet for once, no crying, no fussing. Mark was still asleep beside her, one arm slung over her waist, hand resting on the dark line of her belly like he always did when he thought she was just tired from the baby. She could feel the fresh plugs from last night still deep inside her, locked in place, keeping everything warm and full while the house smelled like s*x and milk and the faint Thai takeout from the night before.
She slipped out of bed without waking him, bare feet silent on the hardwood. The collar around her neck was cool now, the black silicone ring still on her finger like a promise. She didn’t bother with clothes just the robe and her leaking
