Em,
If you’re reading this, either something’s happened to me or I finally got brave enough to ask Margaret to give it to you. I hope it’s the second one.
I didn’t fall down the stairs. I was in a car accident on April 18th. Chloe was in the car. We were coming back from a meeting with Margaret about my father’s estate. Someone ran us off the road. I don’t remember it. I have a brain injury that makes it hard to remember things, sometimes even things that happened that morning. I’ve been seeing a neurologist at Christ Hospital every two weeks. I didn’t tell you because I was ashamed and scared, and then the lie got too big to take back.
I have a half-brother named Daniel. My father had a second family. Daniel wants half the company. He’s been threatening me. I think he might be the one who hit our car. I haven’t told you because I didn’t want you to be afraid in your own house.
And there’s something else.
In June, I slept with Chloe. Once. At the Westin downtown, after a meeting with Margaret, when I’d had too much to drink and I was scared and grieving my dad and not thinking straight. I ended it the next morning. It was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I don’t remember a lot of things since the accident, but I remember that, every single day.
You deserve to know. You deserve to decide what you want to do about it with all the facts. Not with me hiding things from you.
If you want a divorce, I won’t fight you. Margaret will help you. You can have the house. I’ve already told her.
I love you. I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you, at Graeter’s, when you dropped your ice cream cone and laughed about it instead of getting upset. I’m sorry I’ve been a coward.
Brad
Specialty: Quiet Comebacks & Personal Justice
David Reynolds focuses on stories where underestimated individuals regain control of their lives. His writing centers on measured decisions rather than dramatic outbursts — emphasizing preparation, patience, and the long game. His characters don’t shout; they act.