By the time February rolled around, the landscape of our lives had changed entirely. Both Susan and Danielle had filed for divorce. It was a messy, painful business, but in a strange turn of events, the two women who had been played by the same man became each other’s strongest allies.

They spent hours sitting at kitchen tables, sharing stories and comparing notes, acting as witnesses for one another as the lawyers dug into the mess.

I still think about that night in the ballroom sometimes. I think about how close I came to saying something to protect her, only to realize she was already stronger than I ever gave her credit for. She didn’t need me to hold her up; she just needed to see the truth clearly so she could walk away from the lie. It wasn’t the ending I wanted for her, but it was the one she earned, and she faced it head on.