I realised my ex-husband was cheating on me because he started sweeping the pavement.
It sounds ridiculous, but that’s exactly how it happened. He worked as an electrician and mostly did his work from home, running a small workshop from our garage. He spent all day fiddling with wires, tools, and seeing clients. He was never one for houseworknot out of principle, but simply because he didnt enjoy it. Whenever he had time off, he used it to relaxwatching telly, having a pint with mates down the pub, or throwing something on the barbecue. He was laid-back, never keen on big parties, never aggressive, not the sort who’d ever make you suspicious.
Our road is a typical wide English lane, lined with large old oaks, covered with fallen leaves, a bit of dust, the odd patch of mud. Keeping it tidy is a constant chore. Normally, Im the one who sweeps the pavement early in the morning, just before making breakfast. Then, one day, a new neighbour moved in next door. Nothing out of the ordinary therethe house is always being let out, so tenants come and go.
A few months after she arrived, he suddenly started saying:
No, love, dont worry, Ill sweep today.
At first I thought it was sweet. I used the extra time to do other choreswashing up, cleaning the bathroom, putting things straight. I never checked on him. I had no reason.
But after a while, he did it every single day.
And always at the same time7 a.m. Not earlier, not later. I only noticed because before, unless it was work, he never had a set schedule. One day, purely out of curiosity, I peeked out the window.
And there he was.
He stood with the broom in hand, not actually sweeping. He was chatting and grinning. Facing him was our neighbour. I put it down to coincidence. But the next morning it happened again. And the one after that. Each time he went outside, so did she. Like they were planning it.
I started paying closer attention. It wasnt just mornings. One Saturday he told me he was heading out for a pint with the lads. Pretty usual. Yet when he opened the door, I sensed something was off. I glanced out the window and saw the neighbour coming out at the exact same moment. She called out, Evening, neighbour! Have a good one! He answered, cool as anything, and she added, Oh, what are the chances, Im heading that way too. And off they went together.
Next weekend, he said he was going to play footballnot something he ever really did. He left, and a few minutes later, so did the neighbour, on her phone, heading in the same direction.
I had no proof. No messages. No photos. Nothing concrete. Just patterns. Timings. Coincidences that had stopped being coincidences.
One day, I confronted him about it. I didnt ask. I told him outright:
I know youre seeing the neighbour.
He looked startled. At first, he denied it, but I said, Ive seen you. Every day. Dont lie to me.
He went quiet. Looked at his shoes. And admitted in a low voice, Yes. Im with her. Im in love.
I told him to get out of the house. We didnt have children, there was nothing to discuss. The most ironic part was what happened nexthe moved in right next door, with her.
They didnt last long. Maybe two months, then they both moved out. No one ever found out exactly what happened. They left town, and I never heard of them again. Neighbours gossiped, relatives speculated, but I didnt want to know any more.
