On the First Day of School, the Teacher Called My Son by a Different Name, and He Acted Like It Was Completely Normal

I woke up before dawn, the house quiet except for the faint hum of the fridge. Lucas’s first day of school was today, and I wanted every detail perfect. I stood in the kitchen, ironing his new shirt, the same way my mother used to do for me. He was starting first grade, a milestone I’d dreamed of sharing with my husband, Travis. But our marriage hadn’t felt like a partnership in a long time.