But right from the start, Luke was acting weird. Every time I asked him to take a photo of me or with me, he’d brush it off. “I’m not in the mood,” he’d say, or “Can we do it later?” At first, I didn’t think much of it.
Maybe he was just tired from the travel, right? But then it kept happening. We were on this beautiful beach, and I was wearing this new dress I bought just for the trip.
I felt good about myself, which is rare these days after two kids and all. I asked Luke, “Can you take a picture of me with the sunset?”
He sighed and muttered, “Not now, Hannah.”
I scowled, feeling little hurt. “Why not?” It’ll only take a second.
“I said I’m not in the mood,” he exclaimed, moving away. That stung. We’re on vacation, and he can’t stop to take a picture?
I felt humiliated and puzzled. Throughout the journey, I noticed him being especially protective about his phone. When I walked by, he’d hide the screen and carry it with him even to the restroom.
My instinct told me something was wrong, but I attempted to ignore it. One afternoon, Luke was in the shower, and I noticed his phone on the bed. My heart raced as I lifted it up.
I know it’s immoral to invade someone’s privacy, but I needed to know. I instantly unlocked his phone and accessed his most recent messages. There it was—a group chat with his friends.
And what I read made my blood turn cold. He wrote, “Imagine, people, despite her weight, she still wants me to photograph her! Where would she fit into the photograph?
She has not been the same after having birth.”
