But somewhere in the past eighteen months, after he had taken the position at the consulting firm where Amelia held power and influence over promotions and career trajectories, everything had begun to shift. The changes were gradual at first, easy to dismiss as natural pressures from a demanding new job.

He started working later, coming home long after I had already gone to bed. He traveled more frequently—business trips to Chicago and Boston and Atlanta that always seemed to include Amelia in the delegation. His phone became an extension of his body, something he guarded with increasing paranoia, angling the screen away from me when notifications appeared, taking calls in the other room with the door closed, setting passwords I did not know and had never needed to know before.

I had told myself it was career ambition. Benjamin had always wanted recognition, had always felt he was capable of more than his previous positions had allowed. This new job was his opportunity to prove himself, to climb to the level he believed he deserved. I had supported that ambition. I had encouraged him to take the position even when it meant longer hours and more stress and significantly less time together as a couple.