I wanted to tell him that Karen wasn’t a possession, that he couldn’t decide who she was allowed to love, and that the world did not stop being complicated simply because he wanted it to.
But I looked at his face and saw a man whose family was disappearing in front of him.
So I said, “Okay.”
He nodded once and left.
That afternoon, Karen called me.
“Daniel spoke to me.”
“I know.”
“He asked me to end things before they begin.”
My throat tightened.
“What did you tell him?”
“That I love him, and I love you, and I will not lie to either of you.”
I closed my eyes.
“Karen, I don’t want to destroy your relationship with your son.”
“Neither do I.”
“Maybe we should step back.”
Silence.
Then she said, “Maybe we should.”
We agreed to give Daniel space.
No secret meetings.
No romantic messages.
