Not because she hated him.
Because there was nothing left to explain to a man who needed documents to understand abandonment.
The weeks after that were not cinematic.
They were feedings, diapers, pediatrician visits, cold coffee, sore stitches, and learning how to sleep in pieces.
Clare came by before work.
Madison’s mother folded laundry and hummed old country songs.
Her father assembled a changing table and pretended he was not stopping every few minutes just to stare at Noah.
Rebecca checked in once a week.
Ethan contested the separation at first.
Then the disclosures began.
Then the timeline became harder for him to soften.
He had left on the due date.
He had told her to call an Uber.
He had sent a hotel text while she was in labor.
