While I slept, my husband emptied 500,000 pesos from my account. He went wandering across the city, shopping as though my life were his personal ATM.

The last time I saw Héctor was by chance, across the street.
He wore a cheap coat…
and stared at my new shop window with a mix of anger and exhaustion.
I didn’t cross the street. There was no need.
He no longer owed me explanations…
nor did I require his defeat to feel at peace.

When I got home, I closed the door,
set my bag on the console,
and looked at the serene emptiness of the living room.

That night, for the first time in years…
time was truly mine again.