On Their Date Night, Husband Ridicules Wife for Messy Dishes, Brushes Off Her Gift, Then Unwraps It After Her Passing.
Cora woke up that Valentine’s Day with an unexpected sense of joy. As she moved through the morning, tidying up the house, a soft hum escaped her lips.
She felt light, almost as if she was floating. She had planned a little surprise for Eric—a simple, heartfelt evening to remind him that love still lingered in the busy, exhausting rhythm of their daily life.
She chose a red dress. It wasn’t brand new, but it was the same one Eric had gifted her for their first anniversary. The dress was a bit faded now, but it still fit, still held the same special memories.
The table was set with care: a heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake, a few of Eric’s favorite dishes made from whatever they had in the kitchen, and a small gift wrapped with a ribbon she had found at the back of a junk drawer.
She even strung up fairy lights and lit a few candles to create a cozy, imperfect atmosphere. When the doorbell rang, she felt her heart flutter, eager to see Eric’s reaction.
But when he stepped through the door, his face didn’t light up. Instead, he looked around the room, his brow furrowing in confusion. «What is all this?» he sneered. «Are we playing house now?»
Cora’s heart sank. «It’s Valentine’s Day,» she murmured. «I just wanted to—» He cut her off, flicking on the light switch. «You spent money on this? This nonsense?»
«I didn’t spend much… just a few ingredients. And I wore the dress you gave me—» He didn’t listen. «This? This is what you’re serving? It’s awful.» He tasted the spaghetti, then spat it out.
«Is that soap in the sauce?» Cora winced. «Eric, please, the babies are asleep—» «Oh, of course they are. You’re sitting here all day pretending everything’s fine while I work myself into the ground.
And now you expect me to thank you for this… what, little romantic charade?» He picked up the gift she had carefully wrapped and tossed it aside. «A gift? Seriously? What am I, twelve?»
Cora’s throat tightened with hurt. «You’re being cruel.» «Me? Cruel?» He shook his head. «You should see the kitchen. The dishes are piled up while you’re here playing pretend.»
Unable to bear it anymore, Cora turned and stormed off to the children’s room, where the triplets had woken, crying. She realized with a sinking heart that they were out of diapers.
She returned to the living room, her face hard with restraint. «I’m going to the store,» she said, grabbing her coat. «You watch the kids.»
«Right,» he muttered sarcastically. «Go ahead. That’s really all you’re good for, isn’t it?» She slammed the door as she left. Time passed, but the crying from the babies didn’t stop.
Eric paced the living room, growing more agitated. «Where the hell is she?» he muttered, glancing at his watch. Then the doorbell rang again. Expecting it to be Cora, Eric opened the door, ready to lash out.
But it wasn’t her. It was a police officer. «Are you Mr. Hastings?» the officer asked softly. Eric nodded, confused. «I’m sorry to inform you, there’s been an accident.
A car crash. Your wife… she didn’t survive.» The words hit Eric like a physical blow. He stood there, frozen, his mind refusing to process the meaning.
His gaze stayed fixed on the officer’s mouth, willing the words to change, but they didn’t.
Later that night, he found himself standing in the same living room, now eerily silent, surrounded by flickering candles and the fairy lights she had so carefully strung up. The table was still set for two.
His eyes fell on the gift Cora had wrapped and tossed aside. He picked it up with trembling hands and unwrapped it slowly. Inside, he found a letter and two plane tickets. «To my love, Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve got some exciting news… I landed a job! I know how tired you’ve been, and I wanted to do something to help. Mrs. Nelson will watch the babies during the day, so you can finally get some rest.
But that’s not all—I used my first paycheck to book us a getaway! Just the two of us, to Hawaii! You’ve always wanted to see the ocean, so I thought it would be the perfect trip.
There’s more, but I’ll save the details for when we’re there. I love you, always.»
Tears blurred Eric’s vision as he sat down, gripping the letter in his shaking hands.
They never went to Hawaii. They never opened that bottle of wine. The candles were never lit again.
From that moment on, Eric raised their children with quiet dedication, and every year on Valentine’s Day, he visits her grave. He reads her letter aloud, telling her about the kids, work, and everything he wishes he had said before it was too late.
And when no one’s around, he whispers the words he never said in time: «I’m sorry. I see it now. I see you.»
