Chapter 10 - THE FIRST CONFRONTATION
Elena agreed to one structured meeting with Harrison.
Attorney present.
Therapist present.
No family.
She had one question.
“When did you stop planning to leave me?”
Harrison stared.
“I never really planned it.”
Elena laughed.
Jessica thought he did.
His parents thought he did.
He sometimes thought he did.
But no concrete action followed.
No lawyer.
No apartment.
No separation finances.
No conversation with Elena.
The future existed only in language.
He used imaginary divorce as currency.
Then Elena asked:
“Why?”
Harrison answered:
“Because Jessica wanted certainty.”
“And you wanted her.”
“Yes.”
“So you gave her certainty you didn’t have.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“And when I got hurt?”
He cried.
“I realized I didn’t want to lose you.”
Elena stared.
“Did you end the affair?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was ashamed.”
“That isn’t why.”
Silence.
Then:
“I didn’t want to lose her either.”
There.
Again.
Not love triangle romance.
Appetite for both realities.
Then Elena said:
“You saved me on those stairs.”
Harrison looked up.
“Yes.”
“And I’m grateful.”
Hope flickered in his face.
She killed it gently.
“Saving my life does not save our marriage.”
He closed his eyes.
Then Elena continued:
“You caught the chair.”
Pause.
“But long before that stairwell, you kept opening doors for someone who wanted me gone.”
Harrison started crying.
May you like
He did not defend himself.
That was the closest they came to truth.
