A Valentine’s Day Regret
Cora spent the morning wrapped in happiness, surprising even herself with how cheerful she felt. Sitting in the living room, she checked off tasks from her to-do list for the evening, blushing as she imagined how delighted Eric would be with the Valentine’s Day surprise she had planned for him.
Cora had met Eric at a business conference in Texas, and after only a few dates, they tied the knot. Two years later, they welcomed triplets into their lives.
However, as time passed, tensions arose. Cora became the primary caregiver for their children while Eric took on the role of the family’s sole provider.
This shift meant they hadn’t taken a vacation or dined at a fine restaurant in years, not even on special occasions.
For Valentine’s Day, Cora wore a red dress that Eric had given her on their first wedding anniversary. Though it was slightly outdated, it held sentimental value and spared unnecessary expenses, making it perfect for the occasion.
As the evening approached and Eric’s arrival neared, she carefully set the table.
A heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake—his favorite—sat at the center, accompanied by a bottle of wine and an assortment of home-cooked dishes. Next to his plate, she placed a neatly wrapped gift box, excited for him to open it.
Nearly half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Eric was home.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” she greeted with a warm smile.
But Eric’s reaction wasn’t what she expected. His face twisted in anger.
“What is all this, Cora? Are we some foolish teenagers?” he snapped.
Taken aback, she gently reassured him, “Oh, Eric! Relax! I didn’t go overboard. The ingredients were a bit pricey, but not by much.” She guided him to the table. “Please, sit down and try the food?”
But Eric wasn’t having it. He was furious.
“Do you even think? The babies—I just put them to sleep thirty minutes ago, and now you’ve woken them up!”
Then, his eyes landed on the small gift box. He scoffed, picked it up, and tossed it onto the floor.
“A gift? Do I look like a child who’d be impressed by this? And have you seen the kitchen? It’s a mess because you were too busy making this nonsense instead of handling the house!”
Cora’s temper flared. She stormed out of the room.
“They’re crying because their diapers need changing, but guess what? We’re out! So keep your mouth shut and watch them while I go buy some! The store isn’t close, so I’ll be gone for a while!” she shouted, slamming the door behind her.
Eric continued grumbling as he made his way to the children’s room, still muttering about Cora being a poor homemaker.
An hour passed. The triplets kept crying, but Cora hadn’t returned.
Then, the doorbell rang.
Standing on the porch was a police officer.
“I’m sorry to inform you, but your wife was in a car accident. She didn’t survive. We need you to come with us to identify the body. We found her address on her driver’s license.”
Eric stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the words. Shaking, he called their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, and asked her to watch the children. Then, he left for the mortuary.
Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Cora’s pale, lifeless body.
Tears streamed down his face as guilt consumed him. The next day, after the funeral, he locked himself away in the house, unable to face the world.
Then, suddenly, he remembered Cora’s gift.
“The gift… I didn’t even open it.”
Frantically, he searched for it, his hands trembling as he unwrapped the box. Inside, he found a letter and two plane tickets to Hawaii.
Brushing away his tears, he unfolded the note and began to read.
By the time he finished, he was sobbing uncontrollably. Cora was gone. And nothing could change that.
From that day forward, Eric’s life was never the same. He never fell in love again. Instead, he devoted himself to raising their children, ensuring they had everything they needed.
Every Valentine’s Day, he visits Cora’s grave, spending hours there, pouring his heart out, talking to her about anything and everything, longing for the chance to ask for forgiveness.
