When Nella noticed her husband, Eric, acting differently, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She loved Eric deeply, but the way he was behaving lately made her feel nervous, even scared. What she found out when she decided to follow him was something she never could have guessed—and it changed everything.
It all started on a quiet evening, one just like any other in their 12 years of marriage. But Eric broke their normal routine with words she never expected to hear.
“I need some space, Nella,” he said. His voice was calm, but his tone felt far away, like he wasn’t really there with her.
Nella froze. Eric was the steady one, the one who always kept them grounded. He was her rock. Why was he saying this?
“What do you mean, space?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I’ll sleep in my car for a few nights,” he said, looking at her gently but firmly. “I just need to clear my head.”
Her heart dropped. Why? Was he cheating on her? Did he want to leave her? Terrible thoughts filled her mind, each one worse than the last.
“I can give you space here at home,” she said quickly, her words almost tumbling over each other. “You can stay in the guest room, or even the pool house! Please, Eric, let’s work this out here.”
Eric shook his head with a tired smile. “It’s not about us, Nella. I just… I need to do this.”
For ten nights, Eric followed the same pattern. After dinner, he’d leave the house with his pillow and blanket, driving off into the night. By morning, he’d return before sunrise, looking more tired and worn out each day. Nella couldn’t stand it. Whenever she asked what was going on, he’d only say, “It’s nothing bad, Nella. Trust me.”
But how could she trust him when nothing made sense?
By the fifth night, her patience ran out. She had to know the truth. So, she decided to follow him.
That night, she waited until Eric left, then quietly grabbed her keys and followed his car at a distance. He drove to a park nearby and parked under a big tree. Nella watched from afar, holding her breath.
What happened next surprised her. Eric didn’t meet anyone. He didn’t even get out of the car. Instead, he leaned back in the driver’s seat, setting up his pillow and blanket. After staring at his phone for a while, he lay down as if to sleep.
“What on earth is he doing?” she whispered to herself.
The mystery only deepened. Why would Eric choose to sleep in his car, away from the comfort of their home, unless he was hiding something?
By the tenth night, Nella couldn’t take it anymore. She needed answers.
That night, she didn’t stay hidden. Instead, she walked up to his car and knocked on the window.
Eric jumped in surprise but quickly unlocked the door. The air inside the car felt heavy, filled with tension and something else—something unspoken.
“Nella?” he said, sitting up straight. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that!” she shot back, sliding into the passenger seat. “Eric, what’s going on? Are you seeing someone? Is that why you’re here?”
Eric sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair. He looked exhausted, but not just from lack of sleep. There was something heavier weighing on him.
“It’s not that,” he said softly. “I promise, there’s no one else.”
“Then tell me what it is!” Nella said, her voice cracking. “Why are you doing this?”
Eric hesitated, then reached into the backseat. He pulled out a small stack of children’s books and a recording device. Nella stared, confused.
“I’ve been recording bedtime stories,” he said finally, his voice trembling.
“Bedtime stories?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Why would that worry me?”
Eric’s hands shook as he placed the books on his lap. “I didn’t want you to know yet,” he said quietly. “A few weeks ago, I found out I have cancer. It’s aggressive. The doctors say it doesn’t look good.”
Nella’s world stopped. The words hit her like a wave, and she could barely breathe.
“I wanted to leave something for the kids,” Eric continued, his voice breaking. “Something to remember me by when I’m gone.”
Tears poured down Nella’s face. “Eric,” she whispered, “why didn’t you tell me? You don’t have to do this alone.”
From that moment on, their lives changed completely. The next few months were filled with hospital visits, treatments, and moments they tried to make as special as possible. Eric poured all his energy into creating memories with their kids. He made them pancakes for dinner, planned Halloween costumes months in advance, and filled the house with laughter, even as his strength faded.
When Eric passed away on a cold winter morning, the house felt unbearably empty. Nella was lost without him.
A few days later, she found the recordings he had made. As she scrolled through the files, one caught her eye. It was called Our Story.
With shaking hands, she pressed play.
“Once upon a time,” Eric’s voice began, warm and steady, “there was a princess—kind, smart, and braver than any knight. But most of all, she had the biggest heart.”
As he told the story of their love, weaving it into a beautiful fairytale, Nella could almost feel him beside her.
“And even though the man grew old and weary,” his voice said, “his princess would go on. She would rule their home with love and strength.”
Nella wept, but this time, there was a small smile on her face. Whenever the days felt too hard, she played Eric’s stories, letting his voice remind her of the love they shared—a love strong enough to last even after goodbye.
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