1. A Ritual Shattered
Every Sunday, I visited my husband Owen’s grave to feel close to him after his sudden death from a heart attack a year ago. Twenty-five years together, gone in an instant. The cemetery was a peaceful place where I could breathe and remember him. But then, something changed.
2. Vandalism and Heartache
I began finding raw eggs smashed against his gravestone. The first time, I thought it was a cruel prank. “Why would anyone do this?” I whispered as I cleaned it. But when it happened again, the mess grew worse, and my heart grew heavier. I asked the cemetery staff for help, but there was nothing they could do. It felt like someone was deliberately targeting Owen, even in death. “What do you want from him?” I cried out into the empty cemetery.
3. A Betrayal Revealed
On the anniversary of Owen’s death, I went to the cemetery early in the morning. There, I caught the vandal in the act. It was my sister, Madison, holding an egg in her trembling hand. “You’ve been the one doing this!” I shouted. Her response shattered me. “We had an affair. Five years, Emma. He promised me everything, but when he died, I got nothing.” She accused Owen of lying to both of us, promising her a future he never gave. I was in disbelief. “You’re lying,” I whispered, but she was certain. “Check his will,” she said coldly.
4. Doubt and Clarity
I was left reeling, questioning everything I knew about Owen. Had I missed signs of his betrayal? Madison’s bitterness made me doubt the man I had loved. But when I spoke to Madison’s daughter, Carly, I found a different story. “Mom never said anything about an affair,” Carly said. She explained that Madison was angry, jealous of my life with Owen. Carly’s words gave me some peace, though the pain of Madison’s betrayal lingered. I couldn’t let Madison’s bitterness destroy my memories of Owen. “Goodbye, Madison,” I whispered. “You’re not taking him from me.”