My Daughter Begged Me Not to Get Off the Bus—Minutes Later, My Boyfriend Sent a Photo of My Deed Beside a Contract I Had Never Signed

The bus stopped.

The doors opened.

Neither of us moved for a second.

I did not pull her hand.

I did not tell her there was nothing to be afraid of or point to the passengers behind us as a reason to hurry.

“Ready?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Ready.”