Nella noticed something was off with her husband, Eric. His usual routine was all out of whack, and after days of wondering, she finally had a heart-to-heart with him. But the truth was way more shocking than she could have ever imagined—a revelation that would change her life forever.
It all started when Eric, her reliable husband of 12 years, casually mentioned he needed some space to think. This wasn’t like him at all. Despite his reassurances, she couldn’t help but imagine the worst: an affair, a leave, or even sleeping in his car instead of their cozy home.
“Why don’t you stay in the guest room?” she suggested, trying to keep him close. “Or we can even fix up the pool house. You don’t have to go anywhere.”
Eric smiled weakly but shook his head. “It’s not that simple. This is really important to me. Please trust me.”
For ten long nights, Eric followed the same strange routine. He’d leave after dinner and return just before sunrise, looking exhausted. His unkempt hair, dark circles under his eyes, and slow movements made it clear he wasn’t getting much sleep. When she asked him what was going on, he only said, “It’s nothing like you’re thinking. Trust me.”
Nella’s trust started to waver. Her mind raced with painful scenarios of betrayal and deceit. By the fifth night, she couldn’t take it anymore. She decided to follow him.
Feeling like a character in a soap opera, she secretly followed his car at a safe distance, her heart pounding in her chest. Eric parked at the local park, turned off his headlights, and settled in. From her hidden spot, she watched him. There was no mistress or secret rendezvous. He simply sat alone, staring at his phone, before lying down with a pillow and blanket. Night after night, it was the same.
Finally, on the tenth night, her patience snapped. She needed answers. After putting the kids to bed, she drove to the park and knocked on his car window. Startled, Eric unlocked the door and gestured for her to get in. The air inside was thick with tension.
