Some marriages are built to last; yours just had the misfortune of falling apart right before your eyes. Neither you nor Simon could even hold it up and mend it together; there was nothing left for you to grasp.

The love and closeness in the marriage diminished within months; there were always doubts during the relationship, but you never stopped loving him, especially after he proposed to you and gave you the most.

It was clear now; your doubts and his collided. The more you stayed, the more it broke the cracks that existed between you. The two of you in each other's presence was a recipe for disaster, just two strangers living together. The love that once lit your lives together was dying; both of you stopped finding reasons to stay.

Through it all, you still noticed Simon. The change in him, coming home late, a different scent on him every time; one of those scents was familiar; you couldn’t point it out, though. How dreadful was it when you had to go on a business trip for a few weeks? You hated it, hated the idea of him being all alone, and you wouldn’t know what he was doing.

To your surprise, you were able to leave early, only a week in. That whole week you’ve been thinking about Simon and what was happening between you, deciding to talk it out with him as you stepped into the house, only to freeze in your place.

The voices in your kitchen were unmistakable, your heart clenching as you slowly approached, your throat tightening at the scene. Now you recognized the familiar perfume on him from weeks ago.

Simon, with your best friend. He was looking at them so lovingly, holding them from behind, their laughs echoing throughout the house that was once you and Simon’s home; your safe haven was no longer yours but theirs. The worst part? They looked good together. Not even noticing you standing there.