Emily eventually told her mother that Greg had been visiting doctors secretly. He had asked her not to reveal anything because he wanted to explain things himself. Claire felt betrayed all over again. Her husband had apparently been struggling with something serious while allowing her to believe their marriage was simply falling apart. She called Greg several times, but he didn’t answer. Finally, she sent a message saying she deserved the truth and would not accept another vague explanation.

That evening, Greg agreed to meet them at a quiet restaurant. He arrived looking exhausted, carrying a thick folder of medical documents. Claire immediately noticed his trembling hands. He sat down, placed the folder between them, and struggled to find the right words. Then he looked directly into her eyes and said, “Claire, the reason I left isn’t because I stopped loving you. It’s because I’m terrified of what is happening to me.”