The Moon Never Returns

I was stressed about my AI hackathon entry. My husband Toby, usually just beside me, set down his book, removed his gold-rimmed glasses, and took my laptopsomething hed never shown interest in before. He rolled up his sleeves, and in the glow of the screen, his fingers flew across the keyboard. In under a minute, he solved a problem that had stumped me for a month.

Did you learn that recently? I asked, my heart swelling, thinking hed done it for me. He only smiled.

A man focused on his work is irresistible. I snapped a photo of his handsome profile and posted it online. My usually quiet account blew up overnight.

Comments flooded in:

Its 2026 and Im seeing those hands code again! The ultimate intellectual crush!

Learned that recently? LOL, OP, you really dont know your husband, do you?

MY SHIP IS BACK FROM THE DEAD! I watched Isabelle teach Toby to code a hundred times. They were perfect.

Wait is OP Tobys wife? My Toby-and-Isabelle ship is officially ancient history

The comments kept pouring in.

"Props to you, though. Back in the day, Toby stayed up for nights on end optimizing the parameters for Isabelles AI competition. He collapsed in the lab from exhaustion right after it was over. That kind of devotion still hits hard!"

"You think thats something? What about the fact that after Isabelle left, Toby never touched a competitive AI project again? Is that not the ultimate tragic romance?"

...

Everyone was lamenting their unfinished love story.

Over three thousand comments, all piecing together an Toby I had never known.

This wasn't the calm, dependable man I had fallen in love with, the man so steady that I was the one who had to propose marriage.

This was a raw, impulsive young man who, when rumors spread that he was backing out of Isabelles project, ran through a torrential downpour to her apartment just to explain.

The night before Isabelle left the country was Christmas Eve. That same day, Toby officially quit the AI lab, vowing never to work on core algorithms again. He locked himself in a server room all night and emerged with a hauntingly beautiful piece of AI-generated musica melody whose title was a coded way of saying "I love you."

She was his muse, his inspiration.

I scrolled through their entire story, comment by comment.

The bright white screen stung my eyes until they started to water.

The melody Toby had just generated for me it was the same one.

Was it because Christmas was approaching? Was he thinking of her again?

Hey, dont cry over a bit of code.

Toby chuckled, his thumb, slightly calloused, brushing away a tear from the corner of my eye.

I flinched away from his touch, forcing a weak smile. I tried to keep my voice even. Have you competed in AI events before? You have a really deep understanding of these models.

The lead algorithm engineer on my team is out sick. Honey, could you step in and help me out?

Everyone has a past.

But his kindness to me over the years was real. More importantly, I had just found out I was pregnant. The family of three we had always dreamed of was finally within reach.

If he agreed to help me, it would prove he had moved on. And if he had, I could pretend I never saw any of this.

But Toby just froze. A long moment passed before he finally said, Ive never competed officially.

His words made my desperate hope feel pathetic.

Official records of him and Isabelle winning AI competitions together were still online.

Toby was the most meticulous, careful person I knew. And yet, he was telling me a lie so clumsy, so easily disproven.

I lowered my gaze, my voice barely a whisper. Really?

Then what are all these comments about?

With the last shred of denial torn away, I lost control, screaming at him, demanding to know why.

Toby was silent for a long time.

Theres no why, he said finally, his voice flat. I was in love with her. I still think about her sometimes. Its that simple.

He watched my frantic outburst with a calm detachment. Olivia, were married now. You dont need to obsess over my past.

The irony was suffocating.

What if she came back now? I challenged him. What if she asked you to join her new AI lab? Would you go?

He didnt answer.

He just reached for me, trying to pull me into an embrace.

I slapped his hand away, my eyes locked on his, demanding an answer.

Toby sighed. Alright, stop overthinking this. Go to bed.

His composure made me feel like an irrational, shrewish wife.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I wouldnt let them fall. I pushed again, my voice trembling. Would you go, or not?

The comment section had mentioned that Isabelle had just returned to the country to start her own AI lab and was looking for a head of algorithms. Her fans were ecstatic, convinced this was the epic reunion theyd been waiting for, completely disregarding me, his legal wife.

Tobys lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, he said, No, I wouldnt go. Happy now?

Before the words had even fully settled in the air, his phone rang.

The caller ID displayed a single, glaring name: Isabelle.

Without a second thought, Toby grabbed his phone and started to walk away.

I lunged forward, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. A tear finally escaped, hitting the cloth and spreading into a small, dark stain.

Answer it here!

We stood locked in a standoff. The ringing weakened, and perhaps fearing he would miss the call, Toby actually answered it right in front of me.

His voice was hoarse when he spoke.

Isabelle.

Just one word, spoken with a depth of feeling that twisted my insides.

A soft, gentle voice replied from the other end.

Its me.

I felt Tobys entire body go rigid. He was so stunned he forgot to pull his shirt from my grasp.

Isabelles voice carried a hint of melancholy.

Im so sorry to bother you this late. But I didnt know who else to call. The head of algorithms at my lab is causing a scene. Hes refusing to even show up for the final presentation, let alone come back to the States with me. But the project launch date here is fixed, and we cant postpone it.

I know this is a huge ask, she continued, her voice soft and pleading, but could you could you come and save me? Just this once? Please, my algorithm genius.

But what about your international AI competition finals?

The question flew out of Tobys mouth before he could stop it. Both Isabelle and I were stunned into silence.

I never knew he could be so impulsive, especially when it came to her.

My voice rose, sharp with disbelief. Youre going to fly overseas to help her compete? Toby, tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Both our families are coming over for dinner!

I was going to announce my pregnancy then. For years, both our parents had been dropping hints. My mother-in-law would always sigh wistfully whenever she talked about her friends becoming grandparents.

And Toby Toby had always wanted a child. During our most intimate moments, he would whisper against my ear, his voice thick with tenderness, Lets have a baby, one just as sweet as you. What do you say?

On the phone, Isabelles voice suddenly cracked. Toby is that your friend?

I cut in before he could answer. Were married.

There was a choked sound from the other end. Toby shot me a furious look, but still tried to reason with me. Its just technical support, Olivia.

Yes, just technical support.

Then why was it Ive never competed when I asked, but the moment she called, he was ready to drop everything and fly across the world for her?

The silence crackled with tension. Isabelle was the first to speak. You know what? Never mind.

Wait, Toby said hurriedly. He covered the receiver with his hand, pried my fingers from his shirt, and hissed, his voice dangerously low, Can you please stop making a scene?

Shes a girl, alone in a foreign country. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get to this point? Whats wrong with me helping her out as a friend?

I opened my mouth, but the words wouldnt come.

But its been hard for me to get here, too

This year was supposed to be my best chance at a promotion to team lead. But my performance had been unstable since I got pregnant. Our partners were worried about project delays and were even considering moving me off the core team. My friend had to fight to get me a spot in the post-holiday open-day presentation, but the algorithm engineer on my team said my code gave him anxiety and flat-out refused to partner with me.

Im not a genius. Im the kind of person who has to code until my wrists ache just to keep up. Now, because of this pregnancy, I might lose everything Ive worked for.

But even so, I had never once regretted carrying his child.

There was so much I wanted to say, so much pain I wanted to voice, but the moment I opened my mouth, the tears started to fall.

Toby was already packing a bag, moving with a frantic urgency. He saw me crying and paused.

I thought he would come hold me, like he always did. Or at the very least, offer a word of comfort.

But all he said was a detached, Drink some hot water when youre done crying. Im leaving.

My nails dug into my palms.

My voice came out as a ragged whisper. Are you really going? And you wont regret this?

Toby stared at me for a long, hard moment, then lowered his eyes. Get some sleep.

The front door clicked shut, leaving me alone in the vast, silent house.

My hand rested gently on my stomach. I cried for a long, long time. Then, I picked up my phone and dialed a number.

Hello, Id like to inquire about a painless abortion.