Then last year, he finally asked me to marry.
We were walking around the park where we had our first date.
He knelt.
I burst into tears before I even opened the ring box.
The people around us applauded.
I thought it was the happiest day of my life.
A few months later, we married in a small ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
I remember looking into Aaron’s eyes during our vows and thinking that every year of waiting had been worth it.
I couldn’t be more wrong.
Or so I thought.
Last Friday was our first wedding anniversary.
Aaron had given him everything.
The candles were shining all over the dining room.
My favorite music sounded softly in the background.
The smell of garlic and rosemary filled the house.
For the first time in months, I felt completely at peace.
“Serving the wine?” Aaron asked with a smile.
“Of course.”
“I’m going to change to something better.”
He kissed my forehead and headed to the bedroom.
I saw him disappear down the hall.
Then I took the bottle of wine and followed a few minutes later.
That’s when everything changed.
The bedroom door was not completely closed.
As I approached, I heard Aaron talking on the phone.
His voice sounded different.
Further down.
Careful.
Almost secret.
I was paralyzed.
“Yes, man,” he said.
Then he laughed softly.
“I’ve been cheating on him since school.”
My heart stopped.
My fingers were squeezed around the bottle of wine.
What?
Aaron continued.
“He has no idea.”
I couldn’t breathe.
You have no idea what?
Then came the phrase that almost destroyed me.
“Tonight I’ll finally do what I planned.”
My knees almost failed.
The hallway seemed to revolve around me.
For fifteen years I trusted this man.
For fifteen years I built my entire future around him.
And now I was standing in front of a door listening to him confess that I had been deceiving myself all this time.
My mind went over horrible possibilities.
Was there another woman?
Did he marry me for money?
Did he plan to leave?
Was it all a lie?
I wanted to break through the door.
I wanted answers.
Instead, I stood quietly.
If Aaron had spent fifteen years hiding something, an hour more would not kill me.
I needed to know the truth.
So I decided to play the game.
