I was still reeling from the shock of my wife Erin divorcing me after 56 years of marriage.
It was something I couldn’t quite wrap my head around, even months later. Our argument had escalated quickly over what seemed like trivial matters—her accusing me of having an affair, my frustration over her constant nagging. But never did I imagine it would lead to the end of our lifelong partnership. Since the divorce was finalized, I had been trying to adjust to life on my own. It was lonely, despite having our children and grandchildren around. Every day felt like a struggle to make sense of the sudden void in my life where Erin had always been. One afternoon, I was at my son Henry’s house when the phone rang. Henry picked it up, and I could tell by the way his face paled that something was wrong. He listened intently for a moment before his expression turned into one of disbelief and distress.
