Getting married to Robert wasn’t like most people do. My parents set it up because they thought he would be a good, rich partner for me. I had no choice but to accept what would happen. I had no idea that when we got married, secrets and feelings would come to the surface that would change our lives forever.
When I got settled in our big house, I felt like I didn’t belong there. Robert was cold and far away, and it was hard for me to connect with him. As he showed me around the house and talked about how nice it was, I could tell that he was feeling a little down.
There was one place he wouldn’t let me into, though: the attic. Even though I was interested, I tried to follow his lead. It wasn’t until he had to go to a meeting that I felt a strong pull toward the attic.
When I opened the door, I saw a golden chest full of memories. There were old letters, childhood toys, and pictures of Robert’s life before I came along all over the place. I thought I was a stranger, but I really wanted to understand my husband.
Robert exploded with anger when he found me in the attic. I saw his real desire to connect and understand him when he looked at me, even though he was mad. His anger slowly faded, and he started to talk to her.
As we sat in the living room, Robert told me stories about his childhood. He talked about how his father was a soldier and how he had trouble showing feeling. I was fascinated as he talked about how much pain and loneliness he was feeling.
I had a new view of Robert at that point. He was no longer the cold, distant man I had married. Instead, he was a weak person who had spent his whole life looking for love and respect.
Our relationship changed as the years went by. Robert let down his guard, and we became friends and family. Our daughter April made our family happy and helped them heal. It used to be a shrine to Robert’s past, but now it’s my cozy reading spot.
Now that I think about it, I see that our marriage wasn’t just two people getting married; it was also a process of finding ourselves and getting better. When we found out about Robert’s hidden past, we were able to make our future better.