Perhaps he believed I would cry, scream, demand answers, and eventually agree to forgive him because starting over at my age seemed too difficult.
He had forgotten something important.
I had spent thirty-one years building a life with him.
I had also spent thirty-one years learning how to live without asking anyone else to make my decisions.
Daniel slowly removed his wedding ring.
Jenna watched him.
“Daniel, please don’t.”
He placed the ring beside her untouched plate.
“I loved you.”
“I love you.”
“I believe you think you do.”
She shook her head.
“You can’t throw away everything we had.”
He looked at her.
“You did that. You just expected me to keep living inside it.”
Then he turned toward Mark.
“I hope she was worth losing me.”
Mark’s expression collapsed.
“Son, please.”
“I told you not to call me that.”
Daniel stood, took his jacket, and walked out.
Jenna followed him into the driveway, crying and calling his name.
