He nodded.
Then he asked, “Do you hate me?”
I considered it.
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“I hate what you did. But hating you every day would keep you too involved in my life.”
That was the closest thing to closure I could give him.
Daniel needed more time.
He continued working, attended therapy, and found a small apartment.
Nearly a year after his wedding, he came over for dinner.
Just the two of us.
He glanced at the empty chair where Mark used to sit.
“Do you ever miss him?”
“Yes.”
My answer surprised him.
“Missing someone doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision.”
Daniel nodded.
Then he admitted, “Sometimes I miss her too.”
“I know.”
“I feel stupid.”
“Don’t.”
“How do you not feel stupid after someone fools you?”
I thought about Dad.
Then I said, “Trusting someone isn’t the embarrassing part. What they do with that trust belongs to them.”
