After Five Years, I Left the Man Who Faked Being Poor

To scrape together the down payment on our wedding home, Kent Delgado canceled my family credit card.

He said we both had to learn to be careful with money, to stretch every dollar until it split in two.

I agreed. I started buying clothes off street racks, eating food past its sell-by date.

Even at a 102-degree fever, I couldn't bring myself to spend money on a cab to the hospital.

Standing in line at the ER to pay, I had a few dollars left on my card.

Shaking, I called Kent for help.

The call connected, and on the other end I heard a saleswoman's polite voice: