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Joe

Nothing has to change.

I’ve always prided myself on seeing through any deception my wife has tried to slip past me. All that bravado, and all complete bullshit. I don’t know this woman at all.

When she brought up the latest candidate for the clinic, I didn’t sense I was a pawn.

When we planned and researched and prepared, I didn’t see a single red flag.

We had dozens of different conversations and strategy sessions, all designed to think through any risk and cover any possible contingency plan.

Hundreds of points where I should have picked up on the fact that she had an ulterior motive.

I missed it all. If I’m that blind to her scheming, how can I trust her in the future? I’m now second-guessing my ability to judge anyone anymore. For a psychologist, self-doubt is the kiss of death, and she just gave me that Achilles’ heel.

Thank you, dear wife. You are the gift that keeps on giving, one I am beginning to regret purchasing.

Don’t let this destroy us.

Will it? I don’t know, but the good news is, I don’t have to decide that right now. All I have to decide is how to handle the damage control with the outside world.

She’s a patient now, which means I can take my time with her. Between my mental manipulations and the box, I’ll find out everything I want to know.