Tears appeared in his eyes.
“I was cruel.”
It was the first honest sentence he had said.
But honesty did not erase what happened.
I told Ryan I would not return to the apartment while he was living there. He agreed to move into a small studio closer to work and signed the paperwork removing himself from our lease.
I also told him that counseling was not a guarantee that our marriage would continue.
It was something he needed to do whether I forgave him or not.
For once, he did not argue.
Our Daughter Arrived
Our daughter, Sophie, was born five weeks later.
Linda stood beside me during labor.
She held my hand, wiped my forehead, and reminded me to breathe.
Ryan waited outside until I decided I was ready to see him.
When he entered, he looked smaller somehow.
Not physically.
Just humbled.
He approached the hospital bed and looked down at our daughter.
