She imagines that everything is different, that she has time for morning runs and after-work drinks. She dreams of the life she had, her memories taking on a rose-colored hue: work; commuting, squashed between strangers; having a purpose beyond diaper changes and bedtime routines. She imagines a world glittering with possibility, more colorful and rich for it, that the dark stretch marks that carve up her body simply disappear, fall away like melted crayon, leaving nothing in their wake and taking her back to before. A small smile spreads across her lips. The tears stop falling and she opens
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