The day I laid Emily to rest, I thought I had lost everything. But little did I know, a surprise awaited me, hidden behind a cherished photo. As I gazed at our engagement picture, something slipped from the frame, sending shivers down my spine.
The funeral had been a blur, but the black ribbon tied to our front door was a harsh reminder of my loss. As I entered our home, now empty and silent, I felt like a stranger. The air was thick with the scent of leather polish and casseroles, a poignant reminder of the outpouring of sympathy from our community.
Emily’s sister, Jane, had tried to help by cleaning the house, but her efforts only made everything feel sterile and unfamiliar. I loosened my tie, a gift from Emily, and kicked off my shoes, feeling a pang of guilt as I remembered how she would have scolded me for my carelessness.
As I stood there, surrounded by the echoes of our life together, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. And then, it happened. A small piece of paper slipped from behind the photo frame, and my world was turned upside down.
The discovery would change everything I thought I knew about Emily, about our marriage, and about myself. It was a glimpse into a secret life, one that I had never suspected existed. As I stood there, frozen in shock, I realized that sometimes the truth can be hidden in plain sight, waiting to be uncovered.
