At his company party, my husband struck my shoulder and whispered, “Go home. She belongs beside me tonight.” His mistress stood nearby in a tight red gown, pretending not to hear. I adjusted my dress and said, “No. I think I’ll stay for the announcement.”

At the next anniversary gathering, I stood beneath the same blue lights with no bruise beneath my sleeve and no wedding ring on my hand. The applause was warm, but peace mattered more.

I had not taken Julian’s future.

I had simply stopped him from stealing mine.