He gave me a sad smile.
“I thought it would make things easier.”
“It didn’t.”
“I was afraid of that.”
I leaned my head against the wall.
“So why now?”
His expression changed.
“The treatment worked for a long time.”
My stomach tightened.
“But there have been complications.”
A nurse stepped into the room and adjusted one of the machines before quietly leaving again.
Daniel waited until the door closed.
“They’re trying another treatment.”
He looked directly at me.
“I realized that if something happened before I told you, I’d be taking the truth with me.”
I closed my eyes.
All the anger I had carried for 2 years suddenly felt different.
It wasn’t gone.
It had simply changed shape.
“You should’ve trusted me.”
“I know.”
“I loved you.”
“I know.”
“I would’ve chosen you.”
He covered his face with one hand.
“I know.”
Those words hurt him every bit as much as they hurt me.
“I was scared,” he whispered.
“I thought I was saving you. I didn’t realize I was taking away your right to choose.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
