was contagious.
So I stopped showing it.
After I left the military, I tried to become somebody else.
I sold commercial HVAC systems.
I wore polo shirts.
I paid bills.
I fixed leaking faucets.
I took Claire to restaurants.
I became the safe, predictable man she said she wanted.
Apparently, safe and predictable had eventually become boring.
Claire looked at me.
“I want a divorce.”
I stared at her for several seconds.
Then I nodded.
“Okay.”
She blinked.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Fight for me.”
I almost laughed.
“You just told me you love another man.”
She looked away.
“Derek makes me feel alive.”
I picked up the overnight bag I’d already packed in my head without realizing it.
“Then go be alive.”
I walked upstairs.
I packed six shirts.
Three pairs of jeans.
My toiletries.
My laptop.
And the old photograph of my parents
