Flashes of memories overwhelmed me as I skimmed through entries filled with hope, love, and dreams for a future that never came to fruition. Each page was a reflection of my optimism and naivety, the words echoing a version of myself I had almost forgotten. But as I neared the end of the journal, a loose paper slipped out, catching my eye.

It was a letter, and my heart tightened as I recognized Héctor’s handwriting. It was dated a few months after our wedding. The words were unexpected, filled with a warmth and vulnerability I had never seen in him. He spoke of his struggles, his fears of inadequacy, and the pressure he felt from his family to be someone he wasn’t. He wrote about how he admired my strength and independence, qualities he felt he lacked.

As I read his words, tears welled up in my eyes. The letter revealed a side of Héctor I had never known, a side he had kept hidden behind his cold demeanor. Despite feeling abandoned and ignored during our marriage, this letter was proof that he had cared in his own way, trapped by his own insecurities and expectations.