I’d envisioned our tenth anniversary as a romantic rebirth – lazy beach days and intimate dinners in Santorini. Instead, I got a text at the airport: “Taking Mom to Cancun. She needs a break from bridge club drama.”
As my husband Brad’s flight departed without me, I scrolled through my contacts and landed on Chris, an old friend who’d always flirted harmlessly at parties. His response to my impulsive invitation? “I’ll bring the sunscreen.”
What followed was the most liberating week of my life. Chris and I explored hidden beaches, danced at cliffside tavernas, and had conversations that lasted until dawn. The photos we posted weren’t meant to hurt Brad – they simply reflected the joy he’d denied me.
When Brad met our return flight looking like he’d swallowed a lemon, I realized something profound: his anger wasn’t about betrayal, but about losing control. Now in marriage counseling, we’re learning that real partnership means showing up – not just when it’s convenient, but especially when it’s not.
