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Brian, on the other hand, looked peaceful. Engaged. Almost rehearsed.
Week after week, the routine repeated. Same seats, same smiles, same lingering after service while he chatted with volunteers and helped move things around. It felt odd, but not threatening. I told myself it was just a phase. A harmless one.
One Sunday, just as we were leaving, Brian told me to wait in the car while he ran to the bathroom. Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. He didn’t answer his phone. Our daughter grew restless. A familiar unease crept in, sharp and instinctive.
I went back inside.
The men’s restroom was empty. As I turned down the hallway, I saw him through a half-open window at the end of the corridor. He was standing in the church garden with a woman I had never seen before.
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