The aftermath was loud even though I stayed quiet. Gregory called forty times, then added me back to the family group chat himself, as if removing my name had been the only problem. I muted the notifications and left again. His mother called me ungrateful, and I listened until she finished. When the lawyer’s letter arrived, Gregory finally understood that I had been planning this for years. He was stunned that I had prepared for life without him. I wasn’t surprised that he was surprised.

We eventually settled on shared custody, and Daisy learned that her father’s house and her mother’s house could be different places. On our first night in the new apartment, I placed a platter of chicken drumsticks on the table. Daisy ate three before looking up at me. “Can I?” she asked. I smiled. “Always.” It was such a small word, but after years of being made to feel like I needed permission to belong, it felt enormous.