I tried to live the American dream with a wonderful job and a beautiful wife. Only a year previous we had purchased a new home, more than doubling both the size of the last one and stepping up the "oh so important" status level. I knew I was living a marital lie, but just kept hoping it would improve with each step closer to this so called dream. Of course it did not, and the relationship steadily continued to spiral towards destruction. I love her more than life itself, yet sometimes I hated her almost as much. I cannot comment on the job with any clarity due to impending legal matters. Suffice it to say though I was very happy, had tremendous forward momentum, and actually looked forward to getting up in the morning. To anyone who has experienced this you can testify that this feeling is almost spiritually moving in it's impact on your life. And to those who have not, just try to imagine what this could be like. The true meaning of contentment? What follows is the story in journal format of how the only two aspects of my life that made it worth living fell apart in an instant, what I learned, and what the justice system allows to happen.