She hugged me again.
Caroline stayed.
She took night feedings when I needed sleep.
She learned my therapy schedule.
She attended legal meetings.
She made sure I ate.
For the first time in years, I realized how isolated Julian had slowly made me.
Not dramatically.
Not obviously.
He had simply made family visits inconvenient.
He complained when Caroline stayed too long.
He rolled his eyes when I traveled to see cousins.
He always had reasons.
Work.
Schedules.
Privacy.
I thought we were building a life together.
Maybe he had been removing witnesses.
That thought stayed with me.
On the fourth day of rehab, Sarah arrived with new information.
She closed the door.
Caroline immediately handed Hazel to me.
“What happened?”
I asked.
Sarah sat down.
