Discharged and Discarded I Left Them All

The day I was discharged, my husband and son came to pick me up.

Before I could even reach the car, Joy Swanson stepped out behind them.

She was my husband's first love. The one he'd wanted and never had.

He explained it to me. "After you went into the hospital, I was busy with work, and there was no one to watch Marvin. I asked Joy to help out for a while."

My son had his hand in hers, and he said, sweet as anything, "Mommy Joy, let's go to the amusement park."

My son. Calling Joy Swanson "Mommy."

For a second I couldn't breathe.

Joy glanced at me, and there was triumph in it. Mockery.