Lina lowered her gaze, afraid she would cry if she continued to look into his pain-filled eyes. She began to play with his hand, sliding her fingertips back and forth over his palm. “I didn’t lose myself,” she said after almost a minute of silence. “I told you that you made me too dependent. That wasn’t true.”

“No?”

“You were my world,” Lina said. “I wanted you to be my world—you and the kids. I didn’t want more. I was content.”

“And now?” He laced his fingers through hers.

“Now, I don’t know,” she began, continuing to watch their hands. “I can sleep by myself without having a panic attack. That seems to be the most positive thing that’s come out of this.”

“You have a job—a career.”

“I do,” she agreed, knowing that didn’t begin to make up for what she’d lost.

“Lina?”

“Do you ever go out with other women or to places to meet other women? Bars or—”

“No.” He shook his head. “Never. You’re the only one I want.”

“Then why did you go forward with the separation agreement?” She had been pondering the questions for months. “You filed that, not me.”

“I did it for you. To give you the independence you needed.”

“Even if it meant losing me?” she asked.

“There hasn’t been a day since we separated that I haven’t prayed for you to come back to me. But I promised to take care of you. I will always take care of you. I love you, Lina. Nothing will ever change that.”

“Phil,” she began, tears swimming in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”

“Nothing. You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to consider what I said earlier. Whether you can forgive me enough to take me back.”

The waiter chose that moment to deliver their main course. Lina averted her gaze, brushing away a few tears that had fallen to her cheeks. “Thank you,” she managed to say as an entrée she knew she couldn’t eat was set before her.

They remained mostly silent after the waiter left, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts. “Is something wrong with your food?” Phil asked when after several minutes she set down her fork.

“No. It’s delicious. I’m just not very hungry.”

“I don’t want you to be sad,” he said.

“I’m not sad.” Her hand drifted over the back of his. “I just—I didn’t expect to have this conversation today. My mind is in a million different places.”

“Lina—”

“I don’t know how we can go back,” she whispered. “So much has changed.” Her thoughts went to his new son.

“Not back, baby, forward.” He leaned towards her, his hand gripping hers. “Forward together.”

“But how?”

“You still love me, Lina.”

“Of course I love you. You’re the father of my—”