At 69, I Went on Vacation Alone and Fell in Love With a 72-Year-Old Man. For Seven Days, I Felt Like the Happiest Woman in the World. But on Our Final Evening, I Overheard a Woman Saying, “You Can’t Keep Deceiving Her. She’s Going Home Tomorrow, and You Still Don’t Know How You’re Going to Get Rid of Her.”

He paused.

“But then I met you.”

Sarah sat down beside me.

“Mary, this is the first time in three years that my father has been truly happy. He called me every morning this week. He told me about your walks, what you ate together, and all the things that made you laugh.”

I wiped away my tears.

“Then why were you saying he needed to get rid of me?”

David looked at me with embarrassment.

“Because I was planning to say goodbye to you tonight and never call you again.”

Those words hurt more than any lie could have.

“Why?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“That I would fall in love with you as deeply as I loved Nancy. And that one day, I would have to learn how to live without someone I loved all over again.”

I stared at him for a long time.

“Did it never occur to you that I’ve already been through that same pain?”