Thirty-four

As Henry drove Judy home from the hospital, the city lights blurred into streaks of color against the darkening sky. Judy stared out the window, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The encounter with Marcus at the hospital had stirred up memories she thought she’d buried deep.

As they turned a corner, Judy’s thoughts drifted back to the early days with Marcus. She remembered their first date, the nervous laughter over too much wine, and how Marcus had held her hand as they walked through the park under a starlit sky. They had been so in love, so hopeful about the future.

But then the flashbacks turned darker. Judy recalled the fights, the misunderstandings that slowly chipped away at their trust. And then, that one bitter moment when Marcus had walked in on her with another man. The pain in his eyes was etched in her memory forever.

She hadn’t meant to cheat. Judy knew deep down it was her fear of commitment that had driven her to seek solace elsewhere. Marcus had wanted more—a future t