I had sat awake calculating bills.
I had worried about food, electricity, and rent.
I had tried to protect William from feeling ashamed.
And all that time…
They were testing me.
I walked into the bedroom.
This time, I really did pack my own suitcase.
When I returned, William went pale.
“Sophie, please.”
I looked at him.
“I passed your money test.”
Then I picked up my suitcase.
“But you failed mine.”
Diane started crying.
The same woman who had treated me like a gold digger now whispered,
“I was wrong.”
But I still left.
I stayed at my friend’s house for three days and turned off my phone.
On the fourth day, I finally returned home.
William was still there.
He was sitting on the couch wearing the cheap blue shirt we had bought together.
No expensive watch.
No driver.
No children.
Just
