He took my hand.
“I was trying to save the life we had at home.”
I closed my eyes.
And for the first time, I understood how two people could love each other deeply…
and still hurt each other terribly.
The next morning, we sat together in the hospital cafeteria.
Neither of us touched our coffee.
I had spent the entire night thinking.
About Emily.
About Ben.
About the way our marriage had slowly become a place where we hid our fears instead of sharing them.
“I need you to promise me something,” I said.
Ben looked at me.
“What?”
“Never hide something this important from me again.”
He nodded.
“I promise.”
“No matter how bad it is.”
“I promise.”
“No matter how expensive it is.”
He squeezed my hand.
“I promise.”
I looked at him.
“And I need you to understand something.”
