Susan’s eyes filled with tears.
“Every minute.”
“And when you told me Michael loved me?”
“He did love you.”
For the first time, I raised my voice.
“Don’t defend him.”
Susan remained silent.
Then she sat down in a chair and told me something that wasn’t in the letter.
“I fell in love with him.”
The room went completely silent.
“And him?”
Susan lowered her eyes.
“I thought he loved me too. But when I told him he had to choose, he ended it with me that same day. He said he would never leave you.”
Was that supposed to comfort me?
It didn’t.
I asked her:
“Then why did you stay in my life for another twelve years?”
For a long time, she didn’t answer.
Then she said:
“Because I had already lost my marriage. I had lost Michael. If I lost you too, I wouldn’t have anything left. And yes, it was selfish.”
