In total, tens of thousands had left our household over the previous year.

I wasn’t ready to assume theft.

Curtis earned income; he could have lawful expenses I knew nothing about.

But when I compared the withdrawals to the dates he’d refused medical care, the contradiction felt obscene.

On the morning he’d said an ultrasound might bankrupt us, he’d transferred four thousand dollars.

I sent the records to my lawyer and requested copies of joint financial statements through the usual processes.

I also opened a separate account for my own future paychecks and began preparing an emergency budget.