A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband was not in 


their bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. 


She finds him sitting at the dining room table with a cup of coffee in 


front of him. He appears deep in thought, just staring at the wall. She


 watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of coffee. 


“What’s the matter, dear?” She whispers as she steps into the room. 


“Why are you down here at this time of night?” The husband looks up, 


“Do you remember 40 years ago when we were dating, and you were 


only 18?” He asks solemnly. The wife is touched to tears thinking that


 her husband is so caring and sensitive. “Yes, I do,” she replies. The 


husband pauses. The words are not coming easily. “Do you remember 


when your mother caught us behind the couch making love?” “Yes, I 


remember.” Says the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him. 


The husband continues… “Do you remember when she shoved a 


shotgun in my face and said, ‘Either you marry my daughter, or I will


 send you to jail for 40 years?'” “I remember that, too.” she replies 


softly. He wipes another tear from his cheek and says:


 “I would have gotten out today.”