I’m typing this in a hospital room. Yesterday, my wife, Mari, and I were in a car wreck. I walked away with minor cuts and bruises, but she suffered a crushed shoulder, a broken collarbone, three broken ribs, and a collapsed lung.
They expect a full recovery, but for now, she’s heavily sedated. That’s not why I’m writing this. I’m writing because, in the hours surrounding the accident, I discovered she was cheating on me.
My heart is broken. I feel like a part of me is missing, and that part is lying in a hospital bed three feet away. Mari and I have known each other since we were children.
We started dating in high school and have been together ever since. She was the only woman I had ever been with, and until recently, I was her only man. We married after college, had our son, Michael, a year later, and our daughter, Carrie, three years after that.
My kids are my world. If not for them, I’m not sure I would be here right now. We had felt a distance growing between us for the last three months, but I couldn’t figure out why.
We were supposed to fly to Florida for a cruise yesterday. The night before, Mari went out with her best friend, Rebecca. I urged her to stay home—it was snowing heavily—but she insisted it would just be a few drinks.
I went to bed and slept soundly. Around 5:00 a.m., I woke up and saw her car wasn’t out front. Assuming she’d stayed at Rebecca’s, I got dressed and drove my SUV through the deepening snow to get her.
I sent a text, “Don’t drive. Snow’s too deep. I’m coming to get you.” It remained unread.
I often wonder what would have happened if she’d read that text. I’d still be living a lie, but I wouldn’t be in this utter misery. Rebecca’s front door was unlocked.
I walked in, expecting to find them passed out on the sofa, but the living room was empty. I went upstairs to the guest room, opened the door, and my life as I knew it ended. I saw two heads peeking out from under the covers.
I pulled the comforter back and saw my wife, my Mari, laying her head on some shirtless guy’s chest. The next thing I remember is Rebecca, Mari, and the half-naked stranger trying to pull me off him. I honestly don’t remember a thing about the attack, so right or wrong, I don’t feel too bad about it.
When I came to my senses, the man said he’d get himself to the hospital. Mari was sobbing while Rebecca and I screamed at each other. I told my wife she had five minutes to be in my car or not to bother coming home.
She was there in three. Driving angry in a snowstorm is a terrible idea. Another vehicle veered into our lane, forcing us through a guardrail.
The car rolled. Thank God for airbags, we survived. The kids, who were staying with my parents, don’t even know about the wreck.
I haven’t called anyone. My life has been wrecked, and I’m trying to gauge the damage before bringing others into this chaos. I’m numb, yet I hurt like hell.
I don’t even know the person lying in that bed. She obviously no longer loves me. No one with a soul could cheat on someone they love.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
