The Truth I Needed

How could John sound so normal, so untouched by the storm raging inside me? Every word he spoke felt like a thread pulling apart the life we had built. My mind screamed that nothing was as it seemed, but I forced myself to stay calm. I needed to listen and plan my next move.

But enough was enough. When John returned, I would confront him. Forty years of marriage deserved honesty, and I was done living with this shadow hanging over me. Each joyful memory now felt tainted, mistrust seeping into every corner of our past. The engraving on the ring held answers, and I was ready to face the truth.