My husband left me and our six children for a fitness coach – I didn’t even have time to think of revenge before fate caught up with him.

And what about ours?

He stood with his back to him, his shoulders stiff.

‘I can’t do this with you, Paige,’ he said. ‘You’re making a mess of it.’

I choose my own happiness.

I felt something snap inside me, like a rubber band that had been stretched too long.

No, you made it complicated when you decided to meet up with someone else.

He said nothing. He just dragged the suitcase past me and out the door.

I didn’t follow him, but I did walk to the window and watched as his taillights disappeared without him slowing down even once.

Then I went downstairs and locked the door, after which I let the impact of everything he hadn’t said sink in all at once.

I didn’t follow him.

‘Okay,’ I whispered into my fist. ‘Okay. Breathe.’

I stood there and listened to the silence.

I cried until it felt like I had bruises from the inside, but not just for myself. It was for the questions that would come the next morning. For the children who asked questions I couldn’t lie about and couldn’t fully explain without breaking something inside them.

**

At exactly six o’clock, my youngest crawled into bed with me and dragged her little blanket behind her like a cape. She snuggled up against me.

‘Mom,’ mumbled Rose. ‘Is Dad making pancakes?’

My heart broke into pieces.