CHAPTER 14 — THE LAST VISIT
Three months later, I received another phone call.
This time it wasn't Grace.
It was the prison chaplain.
"Mrs. Hale..."
"Mr. Hale is very ill."
"He has asked to see you."
For two days I wrestled with the decision.
Everyone told me not to go.
"You don't owe him anything."
They were right.
I didn't.
But I wasn't going for him.
I was going for myself.
The prison visiting room looked nothing like the courtroom where our lives had fallen apart.
Victor entered slowly.
He had aged twenty years.
His shoulders were bent.
His hair was completely gray.
The man who once filled every room with arrogance now avoided looking directly at me.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally he whispered,
"I thought money made me powerful."
"It only made me lonely."
I remained silent.
He slid something across the table.
It was my old wedding ring.
The one he claimed had been lost during our separation.
"I kept it."
"I don't know why."
I looked at the ring but didn't touch it.
"You know," he said quietly, "people think prison is punishment."
"It isn't."
"The punishment is remembering."
"Every day."
"Every hour."
"Every choice."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I destroyed the only person who ever believed in me."
I stood.
He panicked.
"Please..."
"I know I don't deserve forgiveness."
I smiled gently.
"You're right."
"You don't."
His face fell.
Then I continued.
"But forgiveness isn't something you earn from me."
"It's something I gave myself years ago."
"It was the only way I could stop carrying you."
I left the wedding ring on the table.
As I reached the door, Victor called my name one last time.
I turned.
"Thank you..."
May you like
"For telling the truth."
Those were the last words I ever heard him speak.
