“Granted it got more successful than I ever imagined but I was missing something.”
William didn’t know what to say, but he agreed with her. He felt the same emptiness
and had assumed most couples felt it. It wasn’t a sign the relationship was
failing.
“These last few months have been hard,” Emily told him. “Did you know last month,
we didn't speak for a week and neither of us noticed?”
William tried to recall but he didn’t remember going that long without talking to
his wife.
“You didn't mention it,” Emily said. “We just acted like 'This is our life now.'
But I need something more than that. Some companionship. Some passion.”
William's eyes lit up. He could be passionate.
“And I know what you’re thinking,” Emily told him. “You are thinking about making
some big romantic gesture. Tomorrow, you'll go out and bring home four dozen roses.
Maybe have the kids stay at your sister's for the night.”
William deflated.
“It won't work. Like I said, we were never meant to work out,” she said, standing
up and pacing around the room. “And I'm not saying that I want better than you. You
are great. But I need something different. Something that you won't be able to
give.”
“Maybe we could try counseling?” William asked.
“I don't think that would work,” Emily responded. “Everything happened so fast back
then. We would only be around each other during the summers.
“Then I moved back. We moved in together but I had started at the courthouse.” She
took a deep breath. “Then we got engaged. I spent the next year working and
planning a wedding. Sasha was born less than a year later.”