Most of my savings were gone. I had used them to clean up the mess he created.
The weeks leading up to court felt heavy.
I found a lawyer willing to take my case for free. We went through documents, trying to piece together anything that could reveal the truth. But it all felt insignificant compared to what he had.
“He’s hired one of the best attorneys in the state,” my lawyer, Steve, told me. “We’ll need to stay focused.”
Focused didn’t feel like it would be enough.
I was left trying to defend myself with what little remained.
Every night, after Howard went to bed, I sat alone, sorting through papers, trying to make sense of everything.
But nothing felt strong enough.
The night before the hearing, Howard came into my room.
I hadn’t even heard him walk in. He just climbed into bed beside me, the way he used to when he was younger.
