I did not explain the entire story; it was not hers to carry.

On the card, I wrote: You told me the truth when it would have been easier to pretend you didn’t notice anything.

Thank you.

That evening, Lucas came home from his actual office with a bag of groceries.

He had returned to work months before.

We cooked dinner while a familiar song played on the radio.

He told me about a difficult meeting and then caught himself.

“A real one,” he said.