The Last Goodbye by Abby McCarthy

Lincoln was my addiction. He was the only man I’d ever been with. Loving him had been like a drug, complete with all the nasty side effects. When I had him, it felt like the greatest high. When I didn’t, it was like my world fell apart. Over the years, I’d realized so much of my time had been a craving-praying for the next hit. Was there a support group for this—In Love Anonymous? If so, I suppose I was working through my steps. I admitted I had a problem, and I wasn’t using anymore. Maybe I was delusional that there was a cure for this kind of sickness?

I met the love of my life at fifteen. He left for the Army when I was sixteen. We dated long distance. Made love for the first time on leave. We married on leave too. So much of our life had been spent apart, so when Linc made a decision that took him away from me for years, sending him to prison, I was done. How many times could our life be put on hold? I knew I deserved to live my life with a partner; not love one who couldn’t stick around.

Now, Lincoln is out and I have to finally put an end to this… to us. A family tragedy forces us together again and we confront what tore us apart. I’m faced with the hardest decision of my life. Should I forgive or should I finally let go and let him have this last goodbye?