Two Open Marriages in One Small Room – The New York Times

I want to see the body, said my 12-year-old son, Miles.

He and I were sitting in our minivan outside of the hospital. I texted my wife again: We re waiting in the parking lot. Will you come down? Your burrito is getting cold.

Dad!

We weren t supposed to go inside. This was intended as a quick favor, bringing my wife dinner so she wouldn t have to eat more institutional food.

Miles, it s not the body, I said. You only say the body when a person is dead. Eric s still Eric. He s just had a terrible accident.

I texted my wife again: Honey? Please!

Then I want to see him, Miles said. Can t we go inside? Just for a few minutes.

It s private, I said.

Well, Mom is there.

Mom and Eric have a special relationship, I said. Eric is in an intensive care unit. They re cramped spaces full of sensitive equipment. We don t want the room to be too crowded.

I think it s just Mom there, and Eric, Miles said. Maybe Shelley.

Here s where it gets interesting. Shelley is Eric s wife. My wife (and Miles s mother) is Eric s girlfriend. We both have open marriages and respect each other s privacy, but this accident propelled us into a new reality.

via www.nytimes.com

Now, now. Don’t judge. Because various relativistic arguments you’ve heard forever.