Dear Jane

My Dearest Love,

What is it about the first cold night of October that so stirs the memory? Is it the brisk air? The changing foliage? The brilliant way light plays in long shadows across the landscape? Is it the knowledge that winter is only a few precious moments away? That summer, with all its unfulfilled dreams and desires, is quickly dying? Or is it something ephemeral and elusive? Something mysterious to mankind? Something we are forbidden to know, perhaps only truly understood by the Greek gods who make themselves known in the bright constellations that make the night as spectacular as a newborns smile?

No doubt, by now, you are wondering about the purpose of this letter. I hope you understand that this is written out of my deepest respect for you, my love. It’s true that I saw you a few hours ago, and that we just spoke on the phone about 10 minutes ago, but what I and have to tell you I can only put down in the poetic verbiage of the written word. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it may be considered by you to be what most might refer to as “bad news”. Nothing what-so-freakin-ever, let there be no doubt.

I am now in love, and married to, another woman.

It happens that I have neglected to tell you this fact over the past few years or so. But it all happened so quickly. My wife and I started out as innocent and naive strangers, rest assured. And let me say publicly that even though she is younger that you, more vibrant than you on your best day, and half your size physically, none of those factors went in my decision to marry her in secret and conceal this fact from you (and conceal it quite well I might add).

Oh, how my consciences rings! As I tried to muster up the courage to reveal my shameful secret, I can’t help but wonder if you still remember all those little nothings I promised to you. “I’ll love you forever” or “I would die if you ever left me” and “I swear I’ll pay back that second mortgage you let me take out on your house to start up this adult bookstore franchise I’m going to manage” where all said with genuine resolve at the time. Ah, what you say when you’re in love…