I know. I had to accept that you were willing to lose me. Her tears continued. And now you're asking me to pretend that never happened. I'm not asking you to forget.
Then what are you asking? She took a shaky breath. I'm asking you to give me one chance. I stayed silent. She reached across the small table, but stopped before touching my hand.
One chance to prove that I'm not the woman who walked away. I looked at her. You don't get to decide whether you've changed. I do. She lowered her hand.
Then she whispered the words I'd been expecting since the moment she walked into the lobby. Please take me back. I looked at my watch. Our 10 minutes were almost over. I stood.
Alice looked up at me. Peter. I picked up my coat. I need to get back to work. Her face fell.
But before I walked away, I stopped. I forgive you. She stared at me. But forgiveness isn't the same as getting your marriage back. Alice didn't leave immediately.
She remained seated, staring at me as if she was trying to understand what I had just said. I don't want your forgiveness if it means losing you, she said. I put my coat over my arm. That's not how forgiveness works. Then what does it mean?
It means I don't want to spend the rest of my life angry at you. She wiped her face. And that's enough for you? It's enough for me. She stood slowly.
I still love you. I believe you. Then why can't we try again? Because love isn't the only thing that matters. She looked at me.
Then what does trust? Her expression changed. I could earn that back. Maybe. Maybe.
You don't earn 15 years of trust back because you apologize twice. She nodded. I know. And I'm not going to promise you anything. I understand.
She picked up her purse. Can I ask you something? Go ahead. When you told me okay that night, did you already know you were going to leave me? I thought about it.
No. She looked surprised. I thought you said you knew I had changed. I knew something was wrong. I didn't know what you were going to say.
So, when I told you about Thomas, I made my decision. She looked down that quickly. You told me you found another man. You didn't ask me to save the marriage. You told me you wanted someone else.
Alice nodded. I thought you'd fight. I don't fight for someone who has already chosen to leave. She closed her eyes. I wish I had never said it.
I don't. She looked at me. You don't? No. Why?