I never thought of myself as taking another man’s place.
Two years earlier, Elena had gotten sick. It was sudden and aggressive, dividing our lives into before and after within months.
Near the end, she worried about the kids constantly.
One night, she gripped my hand and whispered, « Promise me nothing changes for them. »
« Nothing will. »
« Jasper. »
« I’m serious. I’ll raise them exactly like we planned. »
« Promise me nothing changes for them. »
Her eyes filled.
« Keep them together. »
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