MELANIE:

It’s past midnight when we get home. The kids are asleep in their rooms, bandaged and resting. Liam has barely spoken since the hospital. He checked on them again before retreating to his study without a word.

I sit on the edge of the bed, the quiet pressing in on me. My hands tremble as I unwrap the bandage on my wrist, the sting of disinfectant biting into my skin.

He didn’t even ask if I was hurt. Not once.

I close my eyes. The tears come slow at first, then fast, hot and ...