In Samantha’s opinion, she couldn’t help how she felt. They had been married young, too young, before his drinking had really picked up and before she had known how unengaged he would become in their marriage. His eyes were so empty when he looked at her. Remembering those first couple of years when they had moved into together was overwhelming, the unhappiness and entrapment she felt. Nobody in her family had been divorced before and how could she be the first after only two years of marriage? She was not a quitter, however, it had been five years now of this gnawing ache for something else. They still had no children and she had lost both of her parents within that time, so there was no need to consider anyone’s feelings but her own. It was time for her to leave or for him to make a drastic change.

When her husband returned from his nine to five desk job, she presented him with what she thought would be the end of their marriage. She said, “Tyler, I cannot go on this way. We either need to start marriage counseling or we need to get a divorce.” And to her utter surprise, he opted for counseling. The appointment was made for two weeks from now at three o’clock. Within those two weeks, Tyler carried on as normal - being unreachable during the workday, stopping at the bar every night before making his way home. Samantha doubted the counseling would change a damn thing about him.

The time passed and the day of their first appointment arrived. Tyler was thoughtful in his responses and involved in the conversation. It was almost as if he was excited to turn into the man Samantha had hoped he would have been. They continued counseling over the next three months, and while their intimacy remained stagnant, their conversations around the home improved. Their relationship seemed lighter, he only stopped at the bar a couple times during the week. He even began to tidy up around the house. Samantha appreciated this help so much, she didn’t even mind when she couldn’t find what she was looking for. Like where had their suitcases gone? She also noticed the laundry seemed lighter these days, Tyler must have been helping with that too she thought! She praised the marriage counseling to her friends on their afternoon phone calls.

Their life continued happy in this way over those three months. Samantha expressed her returning joy in their marriage over dinner one night, Tyler’s favorite roast that she had spent the entire day perfecting. Tyler expressed his appreciation of all the lessons the marriage counselor had taught them. Samantha admitted she was taking the possibility of divorce off of the table. Tyler’s entire face contorted, “Samantha, I appreciate these lessons because I have been able to apply them in another relationship.” Immediate confusion spread over Samantha, as Tyler proceeded to pass divorce papers across the table. “I wasn’t sure I could ever be a good husband, but these sessions have given me the confidence to move forward with the one I truly love. I have been having an affair, Samantha,” Tyler admitted. “You must have noticed I already started moving things out.”

Samantha was at a loss for words.