“Yes.”

“Waiting for you to pay?”

“Yes.”

She was quiet for a few seconds. Then she rested a firm hand on my shoulder. “This ends today.” There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in her voice. She didn’t tell me to be more understanding.

She didn’t remind me that marriage required sacrifice. She said what was true. This couldn’t continue.

I looked down at the medical papers again. The diagnosis completed a decision I’d been moving toward for months. I reached into my purse and picked up my phone.