Wife Leaves Cheating Husband

Synopsis

I stood at the edge of the field, watching fathers chase their laughing children across the grass. The kindergarten parent-child sports day buzzed with excitement around me, but I felt the familiar hollow ache of disappointment. Joshua kept glancing over his shoulder at me, his small face trying to mask his sadness as he participated alone while other kids had their dads by their side. "Mrs. Ray, Joshua's doing wonderfully," Ms. Martinez, his teacher, appeared beside me with a sympathetic smile. "I know it's hard when work keeps parents away." I nodded, swallowing the explanation that had become routine. "Cassian's business trip couldn't be rescheduled. He tried, but..." The words tasted stale. How many school events, doctor appointments, and family dinners had I explained away with those same excuses? Joshua had stopped asking when his father would show up weeks ago. The loudspeaker crackled. "Parents and children, please gather for our dance competition!" I watched Joshua's shoulders slump as he trudged