“I was wrong. I understand now how cruel I’ve been.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Could we start over?”
I looked out at the sea beyond my window.
“No, Robert. But you can still change the years you have left.”
He was silent for a long moment.
“Are you happy?”
I smiled.
“For the first time in a very long time, yes.”
On what would have been our 46th wedding anniversary, I went to a restaurant alone.
I ordered my favorite meal and a small cake.
The waitress approached my table.
“Are you celebrating something today?”
I answered:
“Yes. The first anniversary of my new life.”
That evening, a message arrived on my phone.
It was from Robert.
“Margaret, today I made dinner for myself for the first time. I remembered how many times I called you useless while you took care of me every single day. I never deserved the kindness you showed me. Please forgive me.”
