Heather knows why and when her marriage ended with Richie and she

O children of the future, gather closely, for I bring to you the words of Denise Richards, who speaks of the quiet, personal truths that lie at the heart of every relationship, especially those that end in separation. She said, “Heather knows why and when her marriage ended with Richie and she knows why my marriage ended with Charlie.” These words carry with them a deep understanding of the complexities of relationships, where the truth of the end is known not by the world, but by those who lived through it. For in every union, there are reasons that only the two involved can fully comprehend—the silent understandings, the unspoken realizations, and the personal truths that often remain hidden from others.

When a marriage falters, when love is no longer enough to bind two souls together, it is not always because of grand events or spectacular betrayals. Richie and Charlie were mere names in this story, but behind them lay the intricate and often painful truths of private lives—of personal choices, miscommunications, unmet needs, and the quiet shifting of hearts. In this way, Richards is speaking not just about the end of a marriage, but about the profound wisdom that comes with experience—the understanding that some things can only be truly known by those who walked the path themselves.

Consider the ancient story of Odysseus and Penelope, whose marriage was not just marked by the physical distance between them, but by the emotional distance that the years of war and separation created. Though Penelope waited faithfully for her husband’s return, the strain on their union was undeniable. When Odysseus finally returned, the unspoken questions about loyalty, trust, and love hung heavy between them. Yet, both knew the truth of their bond—the sacrifices made, the decisions taken. They, too, understood that only they truly knew why their marriage endured and what had been tested in the space between them.

In the modern world, the same holds true. When relationships end—whether publicly or privately—there is always an underlying truth that can only be fully understood by those who lived through it. Richards speaks not of scandal, but of the personal reckoning that each individual goes through when facing the dissolution of a union. Heather and Richards both know the reasons why their marriages ended, but those reasons are known only to them. This truth—the private knowledge of a marriage’s end—cannot be shared with others, for it is shaped by a web of emotions, choices, and moments that no one else can fully see.

The lesson to be drawn here, O children, is the understanding that in every relationship, there are layers of truth that are personal and sometimes unknowable to the outside world. In marriage, as in all relationships, we must accept that we are bound to each other by more than just public appearances or external expectations. The truths of why a relationship flourishes or falters are often hidden in the smallest of actions, in the quiet shifts in behavior, in the changes of heart that only the partners can feel. The end of a marriage, like the beginning, is a deeply personal journey, and while the world may judge or speculate, it is the individuals involved who hold the key to their shared truth.

Just as Socrates once taught that true wisdom comes from understanding oneself, so too must we understand that the truth of any relationship lies within the hearts of those who experience it. Socrates often spoke of the importance of self-examination, of reflecting on one’s actions and choices. When a marriage ends, it is this self-reflection that allows each individual to understand, at the deepest level, the reasons for its dissolution. For only through true honesty with oneself can one ever come to terms with the complexities of love, partnership, and separation.

Therefore, children, take this wisdom into your lives: understand that the truths of relationships are often not for the world to see. Each relationship, each marriage, is a journey that only those within it can truly understand. Honor the privacy of others’ journeys and remember that while the end of a marriage may be painful or difficult, it is a process of self-discovery and growth. In all things, let your own relationships be guided by the deepest truths of your heart, and let that wisdom carry you through both the bright and dark moments of love. And when the time comes to let go, remember that it is in understanding the reasons, however painful, that we find our way forward.