I THINK LOVE DIES IN MUCH SAME WAY THAT

I THINK LOVE DIES IN MUCH SAME WAY THAT

a heart does. Over the life of a relationship, all
the little resentments and tiny disappointments
can accumulate like plaque in an artery,
imperceptibly choking out the intimacy—the
lifeblood of any relationship.
As much as I wish I could blame Rose for
that, I can’t. She’s a wonderful person—intelligent,
idealistic, passionate, and devoted to her
children. It would be so much easier for me to
move on if she were a worthless human being.
And unfortunately for her, despite my lengthy
list of faults, I’m a decent enough guy.
No, I think the ultimate cause of our uncoupling
lay not in all the little things we did wrong,
but in the unanticipated eff ects of all the big
things we did right—from falling madly in love
to having kids. That’s why it’s diffi cult to move
on. But understanding this allows me to look
back at the relationship and appreciate its
meaning and beauty, despite its imperfections.
Rose is, and always will be, the best mistake
I ever made.