Chapter 46: Betrayal

Ana spread the letter out as flat as she could in her hand and began to read feeling as if a vortex might open at any moment in the bed and suck her under. 

My Dearest Ana, 

I sit here in this tiny room outside your hospital room wondering how on earth we got to this point, but I know the reason. It is because of my lies, and I have told you a great many lies in the short time I have known you. I told myself they would protect you or they were for the greater good but that is another lie. The truth is that I refused to trust you the same way I demanded that you trust me. 

I would test your honesty while lying to you. That is why you are in that hospital bed right now, while I try to unravel this twisted web that I've woven. I will tell you the truth now because no matter what happens going forward you deserve that from me. You are my wife, Ana. The only one I'll ever have and if we are ever going to get a clean slate, I need to break this one first.