“He finally told me the truth a while ago.” I said.

“About time,” Joe said as he wrapped a loving arm over me.

“Yep . . . After almost four long years of marriage to that man and six years of being married to you, he finally told me the truth.” I looked at the dark ceiling flat on my back in the hard bed. Michael was watching Nick at Night in the living room and I could hear the television set playing a theme song for Hey, Arnold. “You know what this means . . . Don’t cha?” I asked.

“Yea . . naw . . What do you mean? ‘Do I know what this means?” he asked.

“I mean “ I kicked the hot cover off of my feet, ‘that we, you and I, can go on with our lives without that doubting now.” I said matter-of-factly.

“You may have wondered if he would ever tell you the truth. But I never cared if he admitted the truth or not.” Joe said under the tired, sleepy breath of a yawn.

“Yea, I know it never bothered you… it’s always bothered me but now that I know . . I think our marriage is even stronger.” I turned my head so I could focus on his brown eyes that looked black in the dark. He hugged me closer.

After the first night of knowing the truth, I can actually say my relationship has grown to the next level. I always felt like I was pulled back by some unknown force. Having him, my ex-husband, to finally talk to me has given me unbound freedoms to express myself as a new individual.

It stared yesterday with a phone call from my ex, Jeff.

“Is it okay if I bring Michal home about seven?” He asked.

“Yea, it’s okay with me.” I replied over the phone.

“There is something I need to tell you.” He hesitated slightly.

“There is?”

“Yea, but I want to tell you in person and talk about it.” The voice said at the other end.

All I could do was think to myself, ‘Well, now the truth comes out.’ “Okay, I have some things I want to talk to you about too.” I plainly stated in a nondescript tone. I didn’t want to tell him I already knew. I didn’t want to say that he didn’t have to tell me. I have been waiting for this day for six years. After hanging up the receiver I hollered for Joe who was in the tub.