sobs.
“Please, Mr. Valez! Please! Put Mommy down—we’ll leave, I promise!”
Her tiny voice cracked something open in me. But not just me.
Archie’s voice rang out, sharp and startled. “Wait. Stop.”
He stepped forward, brow furrowed. “Elly…”
“Please,” she whispered again. “I’m begging you.” Her little face was covered with tears.
The guards hesitated. One finally let go. And the second they did, I bolted to Elly. I pulled her into my arms and didn’t let go.
“Come on, baby,” I whispered, “we’re leaving.”
She cried quietly into my shoulder as we walked out.
…
The Christmas Eve. Just before our flight, a message buzzed on my phone.
Archie: Sorry things got out of hand yesterday. I’ve been busy with some things, but I’ll check on you and Elly in a few days, alright?
Busy.
Right. Like I didn’t know he was getting married to Betty now. Today was their Christmas wedding.
I’d already called a cleaning team over. After packing the essentials, I told them to throw everything else out. Every memory, every echo of our life here—gone.
Elly and I went straight to the airport after that.
And before stepping through security, I typed one last message.
Hope you enjoy your wedding today. Don’t bother checking in. We’ll be no longer your worries.
I hit send. Then I pulled the SIM card out of my phone and dropped it into the nearest trash can.
“Come on, baby,” I said, taking Elly’s hand. “Let’s go find you some snacks for the plane.”
