When Nella first noticed her husband, Eric, acting differently, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. After many restless nights, her concern only grew, leading her to confront Eric directly.
As she soon found out, the truth was far more profound than she could have anticipated, reshaping her life in unimaginable ways.
The whole ordeal began when Eric mentioned he needed some time to think, something he had never expressed in their 12 years of marriage, which, while not devoid of challenges, had been solid.
Eric reassured her, “It’s not about us, Nella. I just need some space to clear my head.”
Despite his assurances, Nella’s mind couldn’t help but wander to the darkest corners, fearing the worst. Eric, usually the unwavering foundation of their relationship, seemed to be slipping away.
His abrupt decision to sleep in his car for a few nights set Nella on edge. Was he having an affair? Was this his way of leaving quietly? Her heart raced with questions.
“Are you sure about this?” Nella asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “We have space here, you know. Maybe you could use the guest room or even the pool house if you need some privacy.”
“Nella,” Eric responded with a gentle smile. “It’s really not about us. But it’s something I have to do.”
For the next ten nights, Eric left home immediately after dinner, not returning until dawn. Each time he reappeared, he looked worse for wear—his eyes ringed with exhaustion and his step sluggish. Yet, whenever she broached the subject, he would brush her off with a tired smile, insisting he was just taking a break.
Despite his reassurances, Nella’s imagination ran riot. Her mind conjured up images of Eric in a hotel room, living a secret life.
By the fifth night, her curiosity and fear reached a boiling point. She needed to know the truth. In a whirlwind of emotion, she decided to follow him, keeping a cautious distance as he drove.
To her surprise, Eric headed to a local park, parking beneath a large tree and turning off the headlights. Nella parked further down the street, heart pounding as she watched from afar. Was this where he met someone else?
But nothing happened. Eric simply sat there, his phone in hand, before settling with a pillow and blanket. Alone in the darkness, he quietly lay back.
This routine repeated itself over the following nights, leaving Nella more confused than ever. What was he hiding?
On the tenth night, her resolve hardened. She needed answers. After ensuring the kids were asleep, Nella headed to the park determined to confront Eric directly.
Tapping on his car window, Eric looked up, momentarily startled, before gesturing her inside with an unspoken urgency. As she closed the door behind her, a heavy silence enfolded them, laden with unexpressed emotions.
“What on earth is happening, Eric?” she demanded, her voice betraying her agitation. “Are you seeing someone? Why are you always here at night? Is there something you can’t tell me because of the kids?”
Her words came in a rush, a flood needing release.
Eric took a deep breath, covering his face with weary hands. His exhaustion was stark, visible well beyond the sleeplessness, as if he bore an invisible weight too heavy to manage alone.
“No,” he replied quietly. “It’s not what you’re thinking. There isn’t anyone else.”
“Then what is it?” she pleaded. “You’re frightening me, Eric. Why are you out here every night?”
He hesitated, then reached into the backseat, pulling out a stack of books and an audio recorder.
“I didn’t want you to find out,” he admitted softly. “But I’ve been out here recording bedtime stories for the kids.”
“Stories? But why would that worry me?” she replied, puzzled.
With hands trembling, he revealed, “I went to the doctor. They found something… a tumor. It’s cancer, Nella, and it’s aggressive. I’m living on borrowed time.”
Nella felt the earth shift from under her feet, struggling to comprehend.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she breathed, barely audible.
“I wanted you to live normally and not have this shadow hanging over you,” he said, tears slipping down his face. “I just wanted the kids to have something to remember me by, something they could cherish.”
Gripping his hand tightly, she shared in his grief. This wasn’t about infidelity. This was about Eric preparing for a future she dreaded to face.
“I won’t let you face this alone,” Nella asserted. “We’ll tackle this together, whatever it entails.”
He nodded, their tears mingling, forming a silent promise between them.
The ensuing months unfolded in a series of medical appointments, treatments, and cherished moments. Eric focused every ounce of his energy on their kids, making them laugh and creating memories.
Pancakes for dinner, pizza for breakfast, walks, and days filled with laughter, despite the looming presence of illness.
He understood the odds were slim, but he persisted valiantly, despite the disease’s relentless advance. He began recording those bedtime stories in his car, ensuring that even in absence, his love endured.
Holding her close one night, Eric said faintly, “I’ll fight for as long as I can…but I’m so tired.”
“I know, darling,” Nella murmured, entwining her fingers with his. “Listen to your heart, and rest when you need.”
Eric departed this life one quiet winter morning, leaving a void as palpable as the silence that now filled their home. The children, too young to fully grasp their loss, sat solemnly through his funeral.
Nella, too, felt lost, drowning in the enormity of her grief.
In the following days, the house was filled with the somber murmurs of family and condolences. Finally, she felt ready to immerse herself in the recordings Eric had left.
Nella retrieved the recorder from Eric’s car, scrolling through the files. Their children’s favorite stories had been saved, but one title caught her eye: “Our Story.”
With trepidation, she pressed play, Eric’s familiar voice pouring into the room, warm and comforting.
“Once upon a time,” he began, “there was a princess. She was kind, smart, and braver than any knight in the land. But most importantly, she had the biggest heart in all the realm.”
Nella couldn’t help but smile through her tears.
“She met a simple man, just a regular guy with no acclaim or wealth. Yet from the moment he saw her, he knew his life was forever changed.”
His voice was a soothing balm, wrapping around her like a reassuring embrace.
“The princess and the man enjoyed many happy years,” Eric continued. “They raised a brave prince and a wise princess. Even as the man grew weary, he knew his princess would continue to reign with love and strength.”
In those final words, she heard his love, unwavering and eternal.
“So my love,” Eric said softly, “know that you were my fairytale. You turned my ordinary life into something extraordinary. Though I’m no longer beside you, your fairytale must go on.”
Those words were her lifeline.
On days when life felt unbearable, Nella returned to Eric’s recordings, his voice a reminder of the joy and strength they shared. With each play, she found a piece of solace, knowing their love story was one for the ages.
What would you have done?