A woman awakes during the night to find that her
husband is not in their bed. She puts on her robe
and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him
sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front
of him. He appears deep in thought, just staring at the
wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip
of coffee. “What’s the matter, dear?” she whispers as she steps
into the room. “Why are you down here at this time of night?”
The husband looks up, “Do you remember 20 years ago when
we were dating, and you were only 17?” he asks solemnly.
The wife is touched, thinking her husband is so caring and
sensitive. “Yes, I do,” she replies. The husband pauses.
The words are not coming easily. “Do you remember when
your father caught us in the backseat of my car?” “Yes, I
remember,” says the wife, lowering herself into a chair
beside him. The husband continues, “Do you remember
when he shoved a shotgun in my face and said, “Either you marry
my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years!” “I remember
that too,” she replies softly. He wipes another tear from his
cheek and says, “I would have gotten out today!”
