Rebuilding A Life, Not A Home

For twenty years, Liam Davis was my world.

From juice boxes in kindergarten to our first kiss under the bleachers, he was my constant.

I put my architecture career on hold, working a quiet desk job so his tech startup could thrive, believing his dream was our dream.

Then, one warm evening, as I sorted our old college textbooks, he walked in, a wide, charming smile on his face.

"I need the spare set of apartment keys," he said casually.

My heart sank when he clarified: "Not for us, Ava. For me. For Chloe. To decorate our wedding home."