And for the first time since Eric left, I admitted something to myself.
I needed help.
For illustrative purposes only
Part 3 — “She’s Your Problem”
Eric’s number was still in my phone.
I stared at it for several minutes.
I hated the thought of calling him.
But this wasn’t about me.
This was his daughter.
So I pressed the button.
He answered after several rings.
“What?”
No hello.
No question about Chloe.
Just irritation.
I swallowed my pride.
“Chloe needs another breathing treatment. Her medication is more expensive than I expected, and I can’t cover all of it.”
Silence.
I continued before he could hang up.
“You took the savings, Eric. I need you to help with this.”
He sighed.
Not worried.
Not concerned.
Annoyed.
“Claire…”
“She needs her father.”
A short laugh came through the phone.
Then he said, “You chose to have her. She’s your responsibility now. Your problem.”
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
For a second, I genuinely couldn’t speak.
“Eric, she’s your daughter too.”
“Find somebody else to help you.”
His voice became colder.
“Somebody who actually cares.”
Then the call ended.
I sat completely still.
Chloe made a tiny sound from the back seat.
I looked at her through the mirror.
She had no idea that her father had just reduced her existence to a problem he didn’t want.
Something desperate inside me still refused to accept it.
Maybe, I told myself, he could say cruel things over the phone because Chloe wasn’t real to him yet.
Maybe if he actually saw her…
So instead of driving home, I drove to the address where Eric was living with his girlfriend.
I carried Chloe to the door and rang the bell.
Tessa opened it.
She was wearing one of Eric’s shirts.
