⠀
— Do you know what scared me the most, Mom?
⠀
— Huh?
⠀
— That we could lose you without knowing you were sick.
⠀
I looked down.
⠀
— I didn’t want to worry you.
⠀
— I know. But next time, you tell us.
⠀
I nodded.
⠀
After a while, I also told him about the last visit to the doctor's office with Robert. I didn't hide anything anymore.
⠀
The children were surprised, but no one judged me.
⠀
That evening, after everyone had left, I stayed in the living room and looked at the photo of my husband.
⠀
For twelve years I had kept that secret as a duty to him.
⠀
Now I understood that I had had no reason to be ashamed.
⠀
Robert had been a man I loved, but he had also had desires that I did not share. I could remember him with warmth without hiding the difficult things in our marriage.
⠀
I put the photo back on the shelf and went to make my tea.
