Before I unfolded it, I recognized the handwriting.
It was Goldi’s.
“What is this?” I asked.
Johnson wiped away a tear.
“Arthur, she didn’t leave because she stopped loving either of you.”
I stared at her.
“She made me promise that I wouldn’t give you that letter until Leo turned 18.”
My hands shook as I opened it and started reading aloud.
“Arthur,
“If you’re reading this, it means I never got the chance to tell you the truth myself.”
“A few days before our son was born, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. My doctors told me my chances were almost nonexistent.”
“I knew you would never leave my side.”
“I knew you would spend every last dollar, every hour, and every piece of yourself trying to save me while raising our son. “
“I couldn’t let you lose both your wife and your son’s childhood.”
“So I made the cruelest decision of my life. I let you believe I was the villain.”
“I filed for divorce because I knew that if you thought I’d betrayed you, you would stop looking for me and put all your love into raising our son.”
“I never stopped loving either of you.”
“I simply believed this was the only way to give you both the life you deserved.”
