When Anna left two years ago, she didn’t cry or slam the door—just said, “I can’t do this anymore,” and walked out, leaving me with our four-year-old twins, Max and Lily. I had just lost my job, and our life unraveled overnight. I drove nights, delivered groceries by day, and leaned on my parents. Slowly, we found a rhythm. The kids became my anchor.

A freelance job turned into a stable remote position. We moved into a cozier place, and I started to feel alive again. Then one morning, I saw Anna crying in a café.