EVER HEARD OF MASOCHISM?

“To: Fred

From: Manu

Dear Fred, today our son turned two years old. And on this very day, the world realized you’re a fraud.”

I left work that day and headed straight to daycare to pick up Jimi. I’d baked his birthday cake myself. The moment I reached the door, my son came running toward me.

“Mommy!”

“My little bunny!”

I scooped him up, our bodies melting into a tight hug full of longing—we hadn’t seen each other for over seven hours. I smothered ...