The side of empty

Claire Wren has the perfect life — at least on paper. A mansion in the hills, a nanny for the kids, a closet full of designer bags, and a husband, Elliot Wren, whose business makes more in a month than most people make in five years. But behind the curated social media posts and perfect school drop-offs, Claire is drowning. She wakes up at 5 a.m. to pack lunches the nanny forgets. She schedules every appointment, handles every crisis, soothes tantrums, smiles through fundraisers, and lies through her teeth when other moms say, “I wish I had your life.” And Elliot? He’s always busy. Always working. He loves her — she knows that somewhere deep down — but he hasn’t looked her in the eyes in weeks. Until one night, Claire forgets to pick up the kids from piano class because she passed out in the car.