Marriage Fail

My Husband Lied About Where He Was for 5 Months

I Thought He Was at Work

He hid out in his car. Photo by Alexandre Boucher on Unsplash

I knew he was lying. About many things. I sensed the shift in him. I found pieces of evidence. But he explained them all away. He made it sound like I was crazy and untrusting. That I was a bad wife for not believing him.

So I dropped it. Dropped my questions and evidence, and ignored that gut feeling that wanted to escape through my throat and scream. Until one small event changed everything. I couldn’t drop it anymore.

It was an insignificant Wednesday afternoon in May. I was at the store with my eight-month-old, when the front wheel of my stroller hit the back of a man’s foot. I immediately apologized as the man turned around.

Freaking strollers.

Oh. I knew him. My husband’s co-worker and friend — Carlos. I smiled warmly, said hello, and asked how he was. (He had always been friendly.)

Carlos didn’t smile back. Carlos didn’t say hello. Carlos didn’t answer me. He just stood, awkwardly looking at me. I asked if he was alright, to which he nodded, mumbled “hi” and walked away.

My heart sank and I felt sick. I knew why Carlos didn’t want to talk to me.