Chapter 2

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Beg you? Was Leo born solely from me? Aren't you his mother?"

"Is caring for our child my responsibility alone? Don't you have any?"

"Do you even realize how messed up our son's mind is right now?"

Scarlett frowned again, pressing her lips together.

She looked at me like I was insane, snatched her coat, and slammed the door shut behind her.

Leo's notebook, with his wish for me to disappear, was still on the couch. Scarlett had left the study light on.

It was always like this. Whenever there was a problem to solve, she'd either lightly fan the flames, watching me lose my mind, or she'd simply ignore everything, turn around, and slam the door.

The slamming door woke Leo. He padded out of his room barefoot, standing at the doorway, staring in the direction his mom had left.

He walked over to me, picking up the notebook I'd tossed on the couch.

He didn't seem worried that I'd seen what was inside, only frowned and accused me.

"Dad, why did you make Mom angry again?"

I ignored him. Downstairs, a car engine rumbled to life. After a few powerful revs, a black car peeled out, disappearing into the night.

Tomorrow, I'd have to bike Leo to school again.

I looked at the notebook clutched in Leo's hand.

And those eyes, so much like his mother's.

For the first time, I profoundly realized how trapped I'd been by her all this time.

I dragged myself into the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed.

I closed my eyes, and "Dad disappear" appeared before me in bold letters.

Honestly, I'd never once lost my temper or yelled at Leo. To avoid conflict, I'd even gone to great lengths, sacrificing my dignity to appease Scarlett. I'd begged Scarlett to come home, begged her to hug our son.

I couldn't sleep.

My phone screen lit up on the nightstand. A SnapChat message from my neighbor, Mark Sullivan.

"Heard your wife slammed the door and left again. You two fighting? You okay?"

Mark and I had met when I was selling my handmade items on eBay. Back then, Scarlett was giving me the silent treatment, cutting off my allowance to force me to give in. I had no income and had to pick up odd jobs to make ends meet. As it turned out, we were neighbors. He even bought my stuff, supported my small business, and checked in on me.

I heard Leo close his bedroom door. I replied:

"Thanks, Mark, I'm fine."

I woke up the next morning feeling utterly drained. My eyes were swollen almost shut.

Scarlett was back, the lingering gardenia scent now completely drowned out by the heavy smell of alcohol.

She noticed me, her gaze lingering on my face for only a second before darting away. This wasn't the silent treatment; she frowned, walked into the bathroom, making thinly veiled jabs.

"Seriously, who are you trying to scare looking like that?"

I knew she was waiting for me to snap back, to watch me lose it, and then she'd leave again, indifferent. But I was tired. I said nothing.

She looked at me, a flicker of something I couldn't quite place in her eyes.

Then, with an overly affectionate smile, she went into Leo's bedroom.

"Come on, sweetheart, Mom's taking you to school today."

Two completely different attitudes, as if she were two different people. They walked out hand-in-hand, chatting intimately.

No one cared about me.

It felt like two sharp blades piercing my heart.