Mr. Aldrich, you can come on back now.

The pediatricians assistant gave me a sympathetic smile before stepping aside to the open doorway,

allowing entry while I carry the infant seat to the doctor's room.

There have been far too many of these, too many waiting rooms.

Doctors' appointments, special treatments.

When my girlfriend Marla first got pregnant, I knew my life would change, but this was devastating.

We had met a little later in life.

I just turned 31 and Marla was halfway through her 30 second year.

She was emotionally reeling from a vicious divorce and I was sifting through the sinew

in Mar of my own broken heart.

I informed my college sweetheart that I wanted to marry her and...

Well, she informed me that she had been slowly moving her things out of our apartment to a new place.

It wasn't pretty, but I can't help thinking I'd be better than where I find myself currently.

I know that sounds awful.

Marla and I became sine eaters for each other.

Truth tellers, if you will.

If we told each other that brutal things are blinded hearts that overlooked it order to move on,

with all the tension, deep talks and shoulder crying of course.

It was only a matter of time before we missed took need and codependency for...

Love.

Things weren't bad, but I think somewhere in our heart of hearts, we both knew we'd settled.

Even so.

...