My husband skipped our 15th anniversary dinner to watch soccer with his friends. When …

do. And then I heard my own words in your letter. ‘You’ll still be here tomorrow.’ I sounded like a man who forgot his wife has a heart.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I did not look away.

“I don’t need you to become someone else,” I said. “I need you to stop assuming I’ll accept being last.”

He nodded again, this time quickly. “I don’t want you last. I don’t continue reading …