Waking in the dead of night, Eleanor felt an emptiness beside her. Disoriented, she reached out, expecting the familiar warmth of her husband, Edward.
But sleep eluded her, and Edward, it seemed, had been absent from their bed for a good quarter of an hour. Her heart pounded anxiously as she sat up, straining to see through the darkened room. What if something had happened? Had he taken ill?
She tried to reassure herself, reasoning that perhaps Edward had merely risen from sleeplessness to attend to some work. Yet unease clung to her.
Unwilling to fret needlessly, Eleanor carefully slipped from the bed and, easing open the bedroom door, tiptoed toward the kitchen. As she neared, she froze a few steps away.
She heard Edwards voice. He was on the phone. The speaker was loud enough for her to catch the words of the person on the other endor rather, the woman.
“Yes, darling, Ive already booked the tickets to Spain,” Edwards voice rang out, thick with anticipation. “Well have a marvelous time together. No one will ever know.”
Eleanor felt the ground vanish beneath her. Her world crumbled in an instant. Every word, every phrase struck her like a dagger.
So many years together, so many plans, joys, and sorrows they had weathered side by side. How could he?
She retreated to the bedroom. Lying in the dark, she felt tears stream down her cheeks. Her heart shattered with pain, while anger, hurt, and bitter disappointment raged within her.
At last, steeling herself, she rose, walked to the wardrobe, and began packing Edwards belongings into a suitcase.
When he finally entered the bedroom, he found her with the suitcase and stared in shock.
“Whats going on?”
Eleanor lifted her gaze, eyes brimming with resolve and sorrow.
“I packed your things,” she said calmly. “So you can take them to Spain.”
“What are you talking about?” Edward forced a nervous laugh.
“Dont pretend, Edward. I heard your phone call in the kitchen.”
Edward visibly paled, his hands trembling. He opened his mouth to speak, but Eleanor silenced him.
“You can gather the rest yourself. Now take your case and goto a hotel, wherever you like. And after your little ‘holiday,’ dont let me see you here again.”
That night, Eleanors life changed forever.
When Edward left, she lay back down, though she knew sleep would not come. But one thought remained: everything would be different now. No more illusions, no more pain from betrayal. At last, she was free.
What do you think? Did Eleanor do the right thing? Or should she have stayed silent? Share your thoughts below!
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