We were almost done with this intervention. I wondered why I ever decided to do it in the first place. So much pain, so much truth-- truth which is known to be a good thing but in these doses becomes staggering.

I watched Eric, the man I loved more than anyone alive, crumble before our eyes. He listened to everyone tell him how he hurt them, each in their own way, each with anger, with pain but always with love. They unloaded years of it. They told the truth. But what made it powerful was that since we were all witnesses to this, there was no way Eric could lie out of it...and he knew that.

So he was silent.

He was quiet as they spoke...his sister, Teresa; his brother, John; his other sister Rebecca; and his father.

Until now, with only two left...his mother.

And me.

Mrs. Espinosa started. Her voice was strong and understanding, but we all knew...we all knew how hard this was for her. She usually rambled endlessly about banalities, like traffic, the economy, whatever...

Not today.

"Luigi...Luigi...Luigi, I had no idea until today what had been going on. Not until I listened to all of these people talk to you, not until I heard Teresa and Johnny tell you how they feel, and my husband, your father here...he loves you so much, Luigi. We all do. But Luigi, it has to stop. A few months ago you confessed to me that you were a homosexual. I felt my heart crack a little that day. I thought life would be so hard for you, that you wouldn't be able to have kids...that you would live out your life alone. I was afraid you would get the AIDS... I was so afraid, Luigi. But you remember how I behaved? Do you remember? I was good, I thought. I covered my fear, I pretended things would be fine. I didn't want to burden you with my fears. And then I began to know Andrew. I began to see what kind of man he was, I began to love him as a son, Luigi...almost as if he were my son. He's so good, he's such a good man...he loves you maybe more than we do. And to sit here and to hear how you betrayed him, how you have lied to him, how you have tried to kill your relationship over and over and over...and still he stays. Some people would say he was the stupid one. But is loyalty stupid? Is love stupid? You are so lucky, Luigi. You are loved by all these people...and more. And this is the way you treat us? I'm angry at you, my first son. I'm very disappointed. Get help, Luigi. And then come back to us."

We were shaken. Boy, she gave us an entirely new perspective on who she was. Eric was dead silent. Frozen.

Then it was my turn. I knew the moment I started to speak, I would be in trouble. I was nervous as hell and even though I'd set this whole thing up, suddenly I felt like an outsider. A stranger...but I began anyway...

"Eric. You missed our anniversary. I know, you're surprised, aren't you? You missed our fourth anniversary; it was two months ago. I almost left you that day. I thought, 'where are his priorities,' if he can't remember the day we met? I still think that. I created this day for you, Eric. Not to humiliate you or to embarrass you, but to save you. I can't believe I'm not crying right now, because I was sure I would. I'm calm, I'm okay. I know this was the right thing to do. It's ultimatum time, boyfriend. Either you go to a clinic today, right now, or it's over with us. I will move my things out in about two hours and you will never see me again. You have destroyed so much of this relationship that I don't even know what's left. You have scarred us beyond recognition, you have humiliated us both. You have cheated on me, lied to me, you have hit me, given me a black eye, you have hurt my friends...well, no more! Damnit! No more! Yes, I still love you. And I wish sometimes I didn't! Yes, I want to stay with you, and I wish sometimes I didn't. This is your last chance and you better feel damn lucky you have one. This is it, Eric. It's 'get help' or 'get lost'....you decide."