Member-only story
On the verge of despair
When love turns to hate and hunger fuels fury
Astrid Reeves stared at the empty fridge, the soft buzz of its dying motor matching the constant hum of anxiety in her chest. At 35, with two kids and fresh divorce papers, she barely recognized her life anymore. The woman who once hosted PTA meetings and worried about organic produce now counted quarters for laundry.
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Luna whispered, her small hand tugging at Astrid’s worn sweater — the same one she’d worn to parent-teacher conferences back when she was the one teaching, not scrambling between two minimum wage jobs.
The sound of her daughter’s voice made Astrid’s heart twist. What kind of mother watches her kids go hungry? The thought burned in her throat like acid.
Her phone sat heavy in her pocket, Heath’s number a temptation she’d been fighting all day. The same Heath who’d traded their fifteen years together for his assistant with her perfect highlights and designer shoes — the kind Astrid used to wear before the world crumbled.
“To hell with pride,” she muttered, fingers trembling as she dialed. Each ring echoed like an accusation.
“Heath, where’s the money?” The words came out sharp enough to cut. “The support check you promised. Remember those two kids you helped bring into…
