“You were both so young… you didn’t know any better. It’s easy to get caught up in the American dream and the idea of having a family. I know why you did what you did, and I know at one point you were happy with her. But you don’t have to stay married just for the sake of it. You deserve to be happy.”

She’s right. I know she’s right. An urge to tell her about Cash washes over me, but I swallow it. I can’t explain all of that right now, on top of shit with Aida. She wouldn’t judge me, but I simply don’t have the mental capacity to deal with divulging all of that. Nor do I have the energy to dissect why Cash’s face appears in my mind at the thought of being happy. That’s concerning for several reasons, one being my wife who’s on the other side of the house, and the other is that it’s a completely unrealistic thought. No matter how I feel about Cash, we could never be anything. Ever.

“I know, Molly. I really do. She has no one here, though. No family, a few superficial friendships, if that. I’m all she has, and I feel like a dick because ending this would essentially be uprooting her from all she knows.”

“You’re not her parent, Stone. That’s not your responsibility. She’s a big girl. She’s made her bed. Now she can lie in it. You’re far too nice to her than she deserves. I’ve never understood it.”

“Okay, as riveting as this is, I need to go and get ready. Love you.”

“Love you too. Send me a picture of the award. And congratulations, Stone. This is amazing. Be proud.”

Two hours later, Aida and I are pulling up outside the banquet hall. The university has one near campus and it’s where this is held every year. They go all out—classy, elegant decorations, a string quartet, catered food that probably costs more than most of our paychecks. It’s always felt a bit too fancy for a university, but whatever. It’s all paid for, so what the hell.

There’s assigned seating, so as soon as we get inside, we find our table. The section we’re at is mostly the English department, so it’s easy to make conversation. Well, for me, at least. Aida, on the other hand, stays quiet. She’s tried so hard to maintain this happy marriage image to the world for so long, that part of me thinks she’s officially given up.