If a woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets, then what is that of a Man?

***

February 14, 1971

The judge brought his gavel down.

A sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole was the verdict given to the accused. The man smiled, he had twenty-seven years of a torturous life, so he had no qualms to live the rest of it in jail.

Amidst the roar of voices after the reading of the verdict, a woman in a pink frilly dress seated on the prosecution side hugged both her kids towards her chest, eyes strained at the man who had not made a single eye contact with her throughout the trial. A man who voluntarily confessed to the murder of her husband. He was found at the crime scene, drenched in her husband's blood. When the police came, he held out his hand and said, "I was drunk, and when I came to, I killed him."

She couldn't help but wonder, why had he done such a thing. Why hadn't he said a word to protect himself? He all but served his ass to the authorities.

When the guards took his arm and bound it in cuffs, he finally turned towards her; smiled, and bowed his head.

His actions confused the woman. Did he deserve the punishment? She would argue differently. But she left the courthouse without a word to him or anyone else. Before she reached the main door, she threw a final glance at the man who was being led outside and once again hugged both her children, ready to start a new life. She thought that would be the last time she'd ever think of him.

Until...