Chapter 9 - MARCUS FINALLY USED THE WORD “I”
Almost a year later, Marcus requested a mediated conversation.
I agreed because our parenting arrangement still required long-term decisions.
His first apology failed.
“My mother convinced me—”
I stopped him.
“No.”
He blinked.
“If this conversation is going to matter, don’t start with her.”
Silence.
He tried again.
“I thought—”
“Good.”
Keep going.
“I thought you were taking Noah away from me emotionally.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
His eyes filled.
“I was jealous.”
There.
Ugly.
Real.
“I was jealous of my own baby.”
I said nothing.
“I let Mom tell me that meant you were manipulating me.”
He stopped.
Then corrected himself.
“No.”
Progress.
“I chose to believe her because it made my behavior feel justified.”
There.
He looked at me.
“I hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“I tried to make people think you were unstable.”
“Yes.”
“I planned for custody before you ever threatened to leave.”
“Yes.”
He started crying.
“I’m sorry.”
I believed him.
That did not restore our marriage.
May you like
Understanding is not the same thing as access.
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