I DIDN’T LOVE you all 50 YEARS. Because you… – the man declared at the wedding anniversary. Guests FROZE from the wife’s response…

They sat on the bench, mother and daughter, looking at the falling leaves. Music from the restaurant was heard somewhere in the distance. Life continued, despite the revealed secrets and shattered illusions. There was wisdom in that too—in the ability to move forward, no matter what.

The evening ended around midnight. Relatives went home. Emily offered Aunt Patricia to stay with her, though initially it was planned that Patricia would stay with Helen and John. «Aunt Patricia, come to us,» Emily suggested. «We have plenty of space, and we’ll talk about life. The girls will be glad.» Patricia agreed, and they left.

Helen and John returned home in silence. In the taxi, no one said a word. At home, John broke the silence first. «Helen, thank you for all these years,» he said quietly. «For the home full of love and care, for the children, for your patience. I shouldn’t have said that to you.»

«Enough, John,» Helen replied. «I’ve known for a long time. Always known.»

«Do you still love Patricia?» she asked, looking him straight in the eyes. John looked away. «I don’t know. Really. It was so long ago.»

«I believe you,» she answered and, approaching her husband, hugged him. Then she went upstairs to the bedroom.

Meanwhile, at Emily’s apartment, Patricia was telling her niece her version of events. «If you only knew, Emily, what kind of love it was! To madness, to trembling, to heart-stopping,» Patricia recalled, sipping wine. «John and I were like made for each other.»

«But what prevented you from being together?» Emily asked.

«His parents. They wanted a different bride for their son—calm, reliable Helen, not flighty Patricia. And Helen, you know, she was always like that. So proper. Everything came easy to her: studies, guys, everything.»

«And you started dating her boyfriend?»

«Yes, it was low. But I couldn’t help it; love overwhelmed me. And then I got pregnant.»

Emily gasped. «And what happened to the child?»..