\n\n\n\nI never imagined that my life would come to a close in the corridor of a hospital. \u201cStage four cancer\u2026metastasized,\u201d the doctor said, and those words lingered in my mind like a chilling omen. He\u2019s not going to make it past a few weeks.When I heard the news, it felt like all hope for Eric and our future together vanished. With just a few days remaining after 15 years of marriage, the end was near. With the golden band on my finger, it felt weighty, as if it carried the memories of happier days. Some of my favorite moments include our first dance, the peaceful coffee we shared in the morning, and the way he gently stroked my hair when I was feeling down.\n\n\n\n
As I observed other families passing by, a knot started to form in my stomach. Some were in tears, others were laughing, and many found themselves caught in that odd space between hope and despair. I realized it was time to go before everything spiraled out of control.\n\n\n\n
As I walked through the automatic doors, the air gently brushed against my face, reminiscent of late September. I found myself a bit taken aback by the sensation. I walked over to a bench by the door, but when I reached it, I ended up falling instead of just sitting down. The long, wavy shadows cast by the setting sun across the hospital grounds reflected the deep pain I was experiencing inside.\n\n\n\n
GET THE BEST STORIES TO YOUR INBOX\n\n\n\n Put your email down here to SUBSCRIBE: SUBSCRIBE\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when she arrived.\n\n\n\n At first, she didn\u2019t come across as particularly interesting. In her late forties, she resembled just about any other nurse. She had on blue scrubs. Her weary eyes seemed to mirror something deeper.\n\n\n\n She slipped on comfortable shoes, perfect for those long hours on her feet, and gathered her silver-streaked hair into a neat bun. She really looks great in those shoes. She just plopped down next to me without a word. Having her there was a mix of irritation and comfort. \u201cHe needs to have a hidden camera put in his room,\u201d she said softly. \u201cHe\u2019s not at the end of the line.\u201d\n\n\n\n The words stung like the burn of hot water from a shower. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d My boyfriend doesn\u2019t have much time left to live. The doctors were in agreement about it. How bold are you? She gazed directly at me and said, \u201cBelieving is seeing.\u201d \u201cI have a job at this place in the evenings.\u201d I can see what\u2019s happening quite clearly. Certain sections seem disconnected from the overall context. You deserve to know the truth, and I\u2019m here to share everything with you.\n\n\n\n Before I could respond, she stood up and walked away, slipping through the hospital doors like a specter. I\u2019m still trying to figure out what happened.\n\n\n\n That night, I lay in bed, my thoughts racing. Eric\u2019s recollections of the day he was labeled clashed sharply with the stranger\u2019s repeated assertions. The doctor\u2019s expression revealed his struggle as he delivered the heartbreaking news to me. He held my hand in his.\n\n\n\n What she said, \u201cHe is not dying,\u201d was a bit ambiguous. Conversely, the notion felt unattainable, yet the question lingered on. As I entered my credit card details, my hands trembled with excitement; I had just ordered a small camera online, set to arrive bright and early the next morning. Early the next morning, I quietly slipped into his room while Eric was being examined by the doctor.\n\n\n\n I carefully placed the small camera on the ledge, surrounded by the delicate lilies and roses in the vase, feeling a slight tremor as I did so. Even though each step I took was painful, I felt a stronger force guiding me ahead.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said, though I couldn\u2019t tell if the apology was meant for Eric or for my own conscience. I was sorry for someone I didn\u2019t know. After a bit over an hour, Eric returned to bed. He appeared somewhat pale and downcast. In his hospital clothes, he appeared even more delicate and diminutive. He inquired, \u201cWhere were you?\u201d his voice trembling.\n\n\n\n Throughout the entire conversation, I deceived them by saying, \u201cI\u2019m just getting a coffee.\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s going on with the scan?\u201d\n\n\n\n When he rolled over in bed, the blankets let out a gentle rustle. He was hurting a great deal. \u201cSo tiring.\u201d It feels like things are just getting worse. I really just need a little time to relax and heal. I nodded and squeezed his hand tightly. Once you say \u201ccertainly,\u201d you can let it all out.\n\n\n\n That night, I returned home and did everything I could to make Eric as comfortable as possible. After that, I settled down on my bed. As I sat in front of the camera stream, the blue light from my laptop illuminated my face, and I could feel my heart racing so fast that it seemed to thump in my throat. The camera flash left me momentarily blinded.\n\n\n\n For hours, it felt like nothing was happening. I felt foolish for paying attention to a stranger as nurses moved in and out while Eric was asleep. After that, everything shifted significantly when nine o\u2019clock rolled in.\n\n\n\n A woman walked into the room through the open door. She stood tall, exuding beauty in her leather coat, radiating confidence. The next thing that happened sent a chill down my spine. As she approached Eric\u2019s bed, the light caught her beautifully styled dark hair.\n\n\n\n My husband Eric sat up with his back straight, even though he looked like he was really struggling. What was discovered required no further effort. It wasn\u2019t painful at all. He seemed to be in a good mood. A peculiar kind of happiness lit up the man\u2019s face as he approached the end of his life. He stood up and wrapped her in a warm embrace. He was far from weak. He swung his legs over the side of the bed to get started. As we kissed, I felt the sting of my wedding band pressing against my finger, and it really hurt.\n\n\n\n I couldn\u2019t capture the sound of their conversation since the camera overlooked their genuine and warm body language. It truly shattered my heart as I observed them both. He tucked the papers she had given him under his mattress, waiting for her return to hand them back to him. I found myself curious about their goals since they appeared to be quite significant.\n\n\n\n As I made my way back to Eric\u2019s room the following morning, a tightness gripped my chest when it hit me that I shouldn\u2019t have been privy to those private details. He had returned to his human state, which left him pale, frail, and struggling to maintain his balance.\n\n\n\n He smiled and said, \u201cGood morning, my love,\u201d as he reached for the water glass, his hands trembling just a bit. \u201cIt was an unfortunate evening.\u201d The pain is becoming more intense. I was about to shout at him and grab him by the collar to make him explain what was going to happen. Instead, I smiled, but it felt like my face was made of shattered glass. I\u2019m really sorry to hear that. <text\u201dIs there anything I can do to help you?\u201d\n\n\n\n I could tell he was really nailing his role, even as he shook his head. How many nights had I wept myself to sleep, convinced that this was truly happening? How many times had I prayed for a miracle throughout the night, fully aware that he was likely with his secret lover?\n\n\n\n As night fell, I turned around and headed back home. As I sat in the parking lot, I tucked my phone away, preparing to capture the truth when the moment arrived. I was aware that his lover was supposed to be there. The woman in the leather coat really did stroll around the hospital as if she were a patient, and she did pay a visit.\n\n\n\n This time, as I followed her, I remained completely still, ensuring I was close enough to catch every word she said.\n\n\n\n The sounds drifted from the ward, seeping through a door that stood just a crack ajar. She had a businesslike tone when she remarked, \u201cEverything is fine,\u201d and added, \u201cthe insurance money will be sent overseas when you die.\u201d We\u2019re on the brink of starting our new life. Eric responded with a great deal of enthusiasm and emotion. \u201cWow, that\u2019s truly incredible, Victoria.\u201d Dr. Matthews did precisely what he was meant to do. He eventually came around to accepting the diagnosis, even though it set me back quite a bit financially. It was definitely worth it. If we keep this up for just a few more days, we\u2019ll be free before we know it. Diana is determined to prove herself and won\u2019t let anyone question her abilities. She is currently busy planning my funeral.\n\n\n\n \u201cThe widow, lost in her grief, even though her husband is still very much alive!\u201d Victoria chuckled gently.\n\n\n\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t believe the look on her face when she came to see me today.\u201d I care about you deeply and often find myself worrying about you. I genuinely feel a sense of sympathy for that poor creature. He burst into laughter. Throughout their fifteen years of marriage, the pinnacle moment came when they successfully executed a con. Their offhand remarks sting more than any blade ever could. Though my eyes brimmed with deep pain, I fought back the tears, knowing it just wasn\u2019t the right moment.\n\n\n\n It was finally time to settle the score.\n\n\n\n While I reflected on each element and jotted it down on my phone, my thoughts began to coalesce into a cohesive plan. Did they look like they wanted to play some games? No worries; I\u2019ve played sports before too.\n\n\n\n I want to express my gratitude to all of Eric\u2019s family, friends, and coworkers who have reached out to me with their concerns about him. They called, and I followed up the next day. Eric\u2019s mother wept quietly into a napkin as she stood beside his parents at his bedside. Colleagues at work expressed their apologies in hushed voices. My college friends shared stories about all the great times they enjoyed together. As the evening rolled in, everyone had gathered in Eric\u2019s room.\n\n\n\n As the crowd grew larger, I noticed a flicker of fear in Eric\u2019s eyes. Despite that, he appeared appreciative of the support, playing his role by feigning weakness and expressing gratitude.\n\n\n\n Eric\u2019s children have grown up. \u201cHey Diana, what are you up to?\u201d The room was a complete mess.\n\n\n\n As his mom continued to cry, her tears transformed into furious screams. It\u2019s not fair for you to put us in this situation with your spouse.\n\n\n\n While their father was held back, two of Eric\u2019s brothers had to follow orders. Victoria showed up at the same moment and came to a halt when it hit her that their plan had completely unraveled. She lingered by the door.\n\n\n\n The following day, I went ahead and filed for divorce, despite not having seen him since the day prior. I made my way back to the bench outside the hospital, eager to find the kind stranger who had rescued me from the biggest deception I had ever faced. This time, the same woman who had cautioned me earlier took a seat beside me, but she appeared much more at ease.\n\n\n\n As I watched the sun dip below the horizon, I whispered, \u201cThank you.\u201d You rescued me from a peculiar sort of sorrow. The sky transformed into a canvas of new starts and farewells.\n\n\n\n As I made my way home in the evening, I felt the weight of my wedding ring tucked away in my pocket. Reflecting on all that I\u2019ve gained and lost in life weighs on me. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky was ablaze with vibrant shades of orange and red. For the first time in weeks, it felt like I could finally take a deep breath again.\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the conclusion of one tale paves the way for the beginning of another.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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