rang。 A friend walked in； pale and shattered。 Dark rings under red…rimmed eyes； lips quivering from restrained emotion。 “She’s
left me；” he whispered； as if expecting the words to hurt。 “After fourteen years of an ideal marriage； she’s upped and left me。”
I couldn’t help thinking of his wife telling me in confidence that the marriage； to her； was a prison： a locked cell； stifling and restrictive； no access to daylight or fresh air。 “I shall have to break out；” she had stated calmly； “or else go under。”
“I love her；” he said brokenly。 “Since the day we met； I’ve only lived for her。 My life was dedicated to her welfare。 Without her； I have nothing。”
It crossed my mind that this degree of spousal devotion seems to e more naturally to men。 I wonder if it stems from an unconscious hankering back to the blessed state of infancy； when all their require…ments were filled by a bountiful madonna； who asked for nothing but submission in return。
“Could it be；” I ventured carefully； in an attempt to help； if not fort； “that your relationship has been based on your needs more than hers？”
“Not at all；” he snapped； offended。 “I never had a thought for myself。 I gave her everything； each living moment。 Body and soul； I was all hers。” Bewilderment took over； as he pondered： “How can any woman walk away from such devotion？”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him。 Perhaps one day I will。
Of all emotions； the most dangerous are those we don’t know we have。 They are the cause of rash； impulsive acts； they drive us to be erratic； distort our sense of judgement。
It’s natural enough to want to close the door on feelings that are painful or unworthy。 But suppression has an awful lot to answer for in terms of devastation。
Does t
