I never thought I’d come home to find my husband, Martin, and his ex-wife, Janet, digging up our beautiful garden together. Their hushed whispers and dirt-stained hands hinted at long-buried secrets. When I confronted them, I realized Martin wasn’t the perfect man I thought he was.
Martin and I met two years ago, right after I’d broken up with my ex-boyfriend. He was kind, attentive, and listened to me for hours without checking his phone. What won my heart was how he showed up at my doorstep with homemade chicken soup and my favorite movies when I was sick. I thought I’d finally found the perfect man.
As our relationship progressed, Martin opened up about his past, particularly about his ex-wife, Janet. According to him, their marriage crumbled under the weight of her insatiable greed. He told me stories of maxed-out credit cards, arguments over designer clothes, and tantrums thrown when they couldn’t afford lavish vacations. I vowed to appreciate Martin for who he was, not what he could give me.
When Martin proposed, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Our wedding was small but beautiful, and it was the best day of my life. But last Tuesday, everything changed. I came home to find Martin and Janet digging up our garden. I was shocked and angry, and Martin’s stammering only made things worse.
As it turned out, they were digging up a time capsule they’d buried 10 years ago. Martin said they’d planned to look back on their memories, but I felt betrayed. Why had they destroyed my garden for their little trip down memory lane? I stormed into the house, but then I had an idea. I started gathering wood for a bonfire, and when Martin and Janet joined me, I tossed their memories into the flames.
“Burnt bridges should stay burnt, don’t you think?” I said firmly. Martin looked at me with tears in his eyes, apologizing for hurting me. Janet left, and Martin admitted he’d messed up big time. I told him I’d need space, and he slept on the couch. As I watched the fire die down, I thought about the garden that needed to be replanted. Maybe our relationship could be the same way – new seeds, new soil, new life. Only time would tell which path we’d choose.
