An Old Friend

"Actually, before you say anything, there's something I need to tell you, too." He paused, and I felt my heart sink. Somehow, I knew what was coming. "I'm going to Germany in two weeks. With Charlotte."

The words hit me like a physical blow. "Germany? But... why?"

Leonard's eyes lit up with an enthusiasm I rarely saw directed at me anymore. "There's a new experimental treatment available there. It could help Charlotte regain the use of her legs. This could be the breakthrough we've been waiting for."

I listened as he went on about the treatment, the specialists, the potential outcomes. With each word, I felt myself fading into the background of his life, just as I always did when Charlotte was involved.

"How long will you be gone?" I asked when he finally paused for breath.

"A month, maybe two," he replied, not seeming to notice my distress. "It depends on how the treatment progresses."

Two months. The words echoed in my head. Two months without my husband, during the early stages of a pregnancy he didn't even know about. Two months of him focused entirely on Charlotte, while I dealt with morning sickness and doctor's appointments alone.

I wanted to tell him then. To blurt out the news of the baby and demand that he stay, that he be here for me, for us. But as I looked at his excited face, I knew it wouldn't make a difference. Charlotte's needs would always come first in Leonard's mind.

"I see," I said, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. "Well, I hope the treatment is successful."

Leonard beamed at me, clearly relieved by my apparent acceptance. "Thank you for understanding, Claire. You're amazing, you know that? I don't know what I'd do without you."

He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, and I let him, even as my heart broke a little more. As he pulled away, his phone buzzed. I didn't need to see the screen to know who it was.

"I have to take this," he said apologetically, already moving towards his home office. "We'll talk more later, okay?"

I nodded, watching as he walked away, already engrossed in his conversation. Alone again in the kitchen, I looked down at the diamond necklace still in my hand. It sparkled beautifully, but all I could see was a chain, tying me to a life where I would always be second best.

I made my way back upstairs to get ready for work, but my heart was pained. As I dressed, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed older, sadder than she had just days ago. But there was something else there too - a glimmer of determination in her eyes.

I placed a hand on my still-flat stomach, making a silent promise to the life growing inside me. Things would change. They had to. If not for my sake, then for the sake of this child.

As I left for work, I realized that for the first time in our marriage, I was glad Leonard would be away. It would give me time to think, to plan, to decide what I truly wanted from my life and my marriage. And when he returned from Germany, he would find a different Claire waiting for him - one who was no longer content to be a supporting character in her own life story.

The day at work passed in a blessed blur. Another perk of marrying Leonard was the ability to return to school and get my degree as an architectural designer. Losing myself in blueprints and design concepts was often the only thing that kept me sane, but today, my mind kept wandering back to my situation at home.

During my lunch break, I found myself sitting in a small park near my office, absently watching children play on the swings. In just a few short months, I would have a child of my own. The thought both thrilled and terrified me.

"Claire? Is that you?"

I looked up to see Jordan Taylor, a friend from my early college days, approaching with a warm smile. I hadn't seen him in years, but he looked much the same - kind eyes, an easy-going demeanor that had made him popular with everyone on campus.

"Jordan," I said, returning his smile. "What a surprise! How are you?"

He sat down next to me on the bench, and we fell into easy conversation. It felt good to talk to someone who knew me from before - before I was Mrs. Parker, before my life revolved around Leonard's whims and Charlotte's needs.

As we chatted, I found myself opening up just a little about my current struggles, careful to keep things vague. Jordan listened attentively, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Claire," he said gently, taking my hand in his. "You are an amazing woman. You deserve to be happy. Don't ever forget that."

His words, so simple yet so powerful, stayed with me for the rest of the day. By the time I returned home that evening, a plan was forming in my mind. I couldn't control Leonard's actions or his relationship with Charlotte. But I could control my own life, my own happiness.

I spent the evening researching prenatal care and making an appointment with an obstetrician. If Leonard wouldn't be here to support me during this pregnancy, I would make sure I had a strong support system in place.

As I got ready for bed that night, Leonard still hadn't returned home. But for once, I didn't feel the usual pang of loneliness. Instead, I felt a sense of purpose, of determination. Whatever the future held, I would face it head-on, for myself and for my baby.

I fell asleep that night with one hand resting protectively over my stomach, a mix of emotions swirling within me. Uncertainty about my marriage, fear for the future, but also a growing resolve. Change was coming, whether Leonard was ready for it or not. And I was beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, I was stronger than I'd ever given myself credit for.