I touched my wedding band.

The metal felt completely foreign against my skin.

For weeks I had believed his excuses.

I had believed he was just trying to keep a struggling business going and sparing me the stress of yet another medical bill.

He wasn’t protecting us.

He had never been protecting us.

He was only protecting his own pride, and he didn’t care who watched him tear me down to keep control.

“I’m going to the bank,” I said quietly.