Denise’s husband informs her that her phone needs fixing, so he brings it to an old friend from college.
However, her boyfriend reveals the message on the phone to her when he later returns it, proving that her husband is hiding a sinister secret.
Never would I have thought that my search for misplaced headphones would lead me to the most life-changing realization.
I realized I must have misplaced my earplugs in the Uber that took me home with my husband Andrew last night as I was getting ready for my morning workout. Andy was making coffee in the kitchen when I ran inside.
“Honey, can you give me your phone please?” I held out my hand. “I need to look at your call history.
Andrew turned white as a ghost. “No, you can’t,” he replied tersely.
I won’t say Andy and I have a perfect marriage now. We have our disagreements and we sometimes annoy each other, but that’s normal, right? This time there was something suspicious about his note.
“Why not?” I asked.
“It’s… dead. He replied, stirring his coffee like it was the most important thing in the world and turning away. “I left it this morning.
I was stunned for a moment because it was so obvious he was lying. I had no idea what was going on. Then I wondered how often he had been coming home late lately.
When I checked his schedule again, I saw special appointments as well as the date of his parents’ upcoming anniversary celebration. In retrospect, it all seemed so clear: Andrew was hiding something from me.
“Where is he now?” I asked. “I can have it fixed on the way to work if you want?”
Andrew hesitantly went to the bedroom to get the phone. After what felt like an eternity, he handed me his phone.
The screen was completely black, indicating that he had died. I tried to turn it on while riding the train, but it seemed Andrew was right.
I should have been relieved when I walked into the repair shop, but my previous suspicions still bothered me. It was owned by Mike, an old friend of mine from college. He greeted me warmly as I walked up to the counter.
“Hey Mike, could you please look at this? My phone fell on the floor in front of him.”
Mike picked up the phone and held it to his face. “Sure Denise, I’ll let you know what I find.
The day dragged on and on at work, worries running through my head. When I came out, there was a message from Mike waiting for me.
“Hey, can you visit the store? I have something to see.”
As soon as I walked into Mike’s shop, my stomach started to turn. He raised his head from the counter and looked serious.
Mike stated, “Let’s go to the back.”
My pulse quickened as I pulled myself into the small space behind him. Mike closed the door behind us and handed me Andrew’s phone, which was now on and working. But there was more.
He handed me a small folded note and said, “I found this on my phone.”
My hands were shaking as I opened the paper.
It read, “Please don’t repair this phone, say it’s beyond repair,” scrawled in Andrew’s handwriting. Write me and I will pay you money.
Thank you very much.
It was as if the ground gave way beneath me. “What the hell?” My lips pursed “Why would…”
Mike was staring at me but his hands were up. “I did not email him or look at any personal items on the device. He gave me a sad look with a sigh. “But he has something to hide.
While I know he meant well, his comments felt like a kick in the face.
I quickly paid Mike, thanked him, and left.
As I sat on the train heading home, I pulled out Andrew’s phone. Why did he go to such extreme measures to prevent me from viewing his phone history?
I thought of the most obvious solution and balled my hands into fists: Andrew was cheating on me.
I was so excited that I started going through the phone numbers. My head was racing with ideas on how to get revenge on him, so I was really surprised at what I discovered.
Most of the calls went to a number marked “Dr. Whitman”, while several others were labeled “Hospital”.
“What the hell…” I grumbled as I clicked on the following emails. They contained test results, follow-up reminders, and appointment confirmations.
My thoughts raced trying to decipher the possible meaning of this.
Was Andrew sick? When I opened his image collection, my worst suspicions were confirmed.
The screen was full of medical records, x-rays, and scans. Each photo captured the grim story of a protracted, invisible battle with the disease.
Andrew wasn’t lying to me; instead, he kept his illness a secret from me for a while. Tears began to well up in my eyes, which I immediately wiped away.
The rest of the subway ride seemed to go on forever. Every moment of the previous few months replayed in my head—every late night, every special encounter.
I was tortured, sad, and guilty all at once. How come he didn’t tell me? How could he do it alone?
As I approached our house, I took a deep breath as I felt Andrew’s secret pressing against my chest. My eyes burned with fresh tears, but I clenched my jaw and kept moving.
Andrew was on the couch flipping through a magazine when I finally made it to the front door. His expression darkened when he noticed the phone in my hand.
“You got it fixed?” he asked in a slightly shaky voice.
I nodded. “Andrea, we need to talk.
He looked away, his body language betraying fear. I took his hand in mine as I sat next to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered, my voice breaking.
With a sigh, tears welled up in Andrew’s eyes.
“I wanted you to be at peace. I wanted to keep our lives normal and protect you as long as possible.”
I raised my voice and repeated, “Protect me?” “How did you believe it would protect me?
It feels like a betrayal to learn it.”
His voice broke as he continued, “I’m sorry, Denise.”
“I believed I could do it on my own. I didn’t want to introduce my problems to you.”
“We are to share our lives, Andrew,” | he laughed. “Positive and negative. How could you not see that I have that problem too?”
With silent tears streaming down his cheeks, he hung his head.
He said, “I know I should have told you.”
But I was really scared. I didn’t want to look like…damaged to you.’
When I saw Andrew bow his head and turn away, my heart ached. I put my arms around him and closed the distance between us, trying to make sense of it all.
I said, “Andrew, I love you.” “That will never change. However, I need your faith. Remember we’re all in this together?”
He squeezed my hand tightly and nodded. I’m sorry, Denise. No more secrets, I swear.”
I could feel his body shaking with sobs as I held him close. “We’ll make it,” I mumbled.
“Together. However, I need to hear what the doctors discovered from you.”
Andrew took a shaky breath. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said two words that will never be the same.
“Lung cancer.” Andrew tried to force a bold smile, but his lower lip trembled. “It’s under control for now, but it’s not good, Denise.
We just sat there and held each other for a long time. Sharing his secret made it easier to bear, but his weight remained heavy. We discussed his diagnosis, his worries, and what we needed to do long into the night.
Even if the road ahead is long, at least we will go through it together.
We scheduled an appointment with Dr. Whitman for the next morning. Andrew reached out to take my hand as we sat in the waiting room.
He whispered, “Thank you for staying with me.
Looking into them, I saw strength and vulnerability in his eyes. “Remember we’re a team?
I have no plans to leave.”
He smiled, this time his smile was genuine and I had to smile too. Despite the drama and sadness, I knew at that moment that we would be okay no matter what happened.
Although romanticized for artistic purposes, this work draws inspiration from real individuals and events. Names, characters, and details have been changed for privacy and story enhancement. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The publisher and author disclaim all responsibility for any misinterpretation and make no claims as to the veracity of the events or portrayal of the characters. This narrative is given “as is”, with the views of the characters being their own and not those of the publisher or author.
The revelation of Andrew’s secret was a shock that turned Denise’s world upside down. What at first seemed like a betrayal revealed a deeply personal struggle her husband faced alone. Hidden messages and medical documents revealed the painful truth: Andrew was struggling with a serious illness – lung cancer – and was trying to protect Denise from the burden.
Confronting Andrew, Denise learned that his intention was not to lie, but to protect her from the suffering he was experiencing. The revelation of his condition allowed them to face the situation together and create a renewed sense of unity and trust. Their path forward, though daunting, was now to be built as a team. They scheduled an appointment with his doctor, ready to face future challenges with openness and support.
The emotional journey they shared highlighted the importance of honesty and mutual support in a relationship. Denise’s initial feelings of betrayal turned into a deepening bond as they navigated Andrew’s illness together. Despite the difficulties that awaited them, their determination to stand side by side gave them strength and hope for the future.