During the short cab ride to Rhonda’s house, Paul was going to go stark-raving mad. The printout shook violently in his hand as he read it for at least the hundredth time. “Less than one percent?” he said out loud. P.J. was his boy, his flesh. There was no way he could’ve come from someone else, it was impossible. This had to be a ploy by Audrey to try and worsen the situation with him and Marlene. If he hadn’t been so hell-bent on getting to Rhonda’s, he would’ve forced the truth out of her.

Just holding the printout in his hands was driving him nuts, so he decided to read the letter. Whatever Marlene had to say couldn’t be any worse than the bomb Audrey had dropped on him. As soon as he removed the folded piece of paper, he recognized it as coming from the journal he had bought Marlene. When he opened it up and read it, his day got considerably worse.

My dearest Paul,

I know that writing you a letter as opposed to confronting you personally might seem like a cowardly thing to do, but honestly, I couldn’t face you. I no longer have the strength, largely in part because I gave all mine to you and never got anything in return. Ifyou only knew how long I dreaded writing this letter, but somewhere in my heart, I knew I’d have to and that’s why my words now flow so freely.

Paul, I’ve tried to express myself to you time and again. I’ve dropped hints, and said out loud what I wanted and what I needed, but you never seemed to hear me. All Paul is concerned about is what’s best for Paul. It takes more than one person to have a successful relationship, and I guess that’s why ours didn’t work.

I always said that if I ever felt like I wanted to step out of the relationship, then I would end it all together, and that’s the reason for this letter. While you were out running the streets and sleeping with chickenheads, I was left to sit at home and wonder if you were okay. When I needed to be comforted, you weren’t there, so someone else stepped to the plate.