John and Paula didn’t say a thing after Paula dropped the bombshell. This was the second time John had seen his life pass through his eyes. 5 years together with all the trimmings; birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, their first date, their wedding, Paula coming home from a tough day at work, John struggling to keep the family together. All of it was coming at full blast with John trying to move himself into a corner chair. Still in denial over what Paula said, John went on with her.

John said, ‘Paula.’ Then he stopped and continued, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that.’

Ashamed of how she made John feel, Paula covered her eyes with her hand palms. She couldn’t bear to look John in the eyes. John saw that she was hurt so he walked over to her.

John knelt down and said, ‘Paula. Paula? It’s all right. I’m not mad with you. I’m sorry.’

Paula knew leaving John a second time wasn’t gonna be easy. But she didn’t expect it to be like this. There really was no easy way of doing this. Philip came into the room when he heard it all quiet after so much yelling. He was worried about what was going on.

Philip asked, ‘What is wrong with you all? We are in a hospital and you’re acting like two pit bulls!’

John and Paula told Philip that they needed some space. It took some doing but they finally persuaded him to leave the room. After exhaling his anxiety, John sat down and started to listen to Paula.

Paula said, ‘John. I don’t blame myself for what happened to Franzi and I don’t blame you. I was with Franzi in all the time you thought I was working 2 days ago. We talked about what happened to her and Daniel and what else had to happen. Franzi told me it was none of my business and that I didn’t give a damn about her. When she told me to admit it, I told her "No" and then I told her that it was my business because I loved her.’

John had his hands together in a prayer position. He didn’t completely grasp what Paula was saying. He asked, ‘Did you mean you love her as a friend..’ Then he paused and finished, ‘Or something else?’ And his head sunk when he asked the impossible.