On Valentine’s Day, a man lashed out at his wife, accusing her of being a poor homemaker and angrily discarded the gift she’d prepared for him. But later that same day, a stranger appeared at their door—and everything changed.
That morning, Cora was glowing with happiness. Even she was surprised by how cheerful she felt. As she sat in the living room going over her checklist for the evening, her cheeks turned pink at the thought of how delighted Eric would be when he saw the surprise she had arranged for Valentine’s Day.
Cora and Eric had first crossed paths at a business conference in Texas. Both were orphans raised in foster care, and they’d bonded over their shared dream of building a big, joyful family. They didn’t waste time—after only a few dates, they married, and two years later, welcomed triplets into their lives. But things got tough when Cora had to stay home full-time with the kids, making Eric the sole provider.
Eric’s efforts to support a family of five weighed heavily on him. He often felt overwhelmed and guilty, never quite managing to give his wife or children the time they deserved. Even weekends weren’t restful—his schedule was relentless, and despite all the work, there was never enough money left at the end of the month.
That meant no vacations or fancy dinners, not even for special occasions. Eric was always trying to save, and Cora respected that, so she managed their limited budget carefully. Even on Valentine’s Day, she put on the same red dress Eric had gifted her on their first anniversary—though a little dated, it held sentimental value and cost nothing extra.
As evening neared, she set up a romantic table for two. There was a heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake she’d baked, a bottle of wine, some of his favorite dishes, and a small wrapped gift placed neatly by his plate. Her heart swelled with anticipation.
“Perfect,” she whispered to herself after lighting scented candles and switching on soft fairy lights around the room. About 30 minutes later, the doorbell rang—Eric was home.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart!” she said warmly, kissing his cheek and leading him into the glowing room.
But Eric wasn’t impressed. His expression shifted the moment he saw the effort she’d put in—the decorated table, the romantic lights, the rose petals scattered on the floor.
“What is all this, Cora? Are we teenagers playing house?” he snapped, anger suddenly bubbling to the surface.
Cora’s face dropped. “Is everything okay? Did something happen at work?” she asked gently, trying to understand his frustration.
Eric exploded. “You think I work this hard just for you to blow our money on something so pointless?”
“Eric, I didn’t overspend,” she replied softly, guiding him toward the table. “It just cost a bit more than usual. Please sit and try the food—I made your favorite.”
But he was fuming. He took a bite of the pasta and immediately spat it out. “What is this garbage? The sauce tastes awful!” he shouted, waking up the triplets sleeping in the next room.
“Eric, calm down! You just woke the babies!” Cora cried out.
“Oh, so that’s my fault too?” he barked. “I’m out working all day while you stay home and play house. And what’s this?” he growled, snatching up the gift box. “A present? I’m not some kid who cares about this crap.” He flung it to the floor. “Did you even look at the kitchen? It’s a mess—because you were too busy throwing together this stupid dinner.”
Cora’s voice trembled. “You’ve changed, Eric. I don’t even recognize the man I married anymore.” She turned away and headed to check on the babies. But the crying didn’t stop.
From the living room, Eric shouted again. “Why are they still crying? You’re supposed to be the perfect mom, right? Maybe try doing something right for once!”
Furious, Cora returned. “They’re crying because we’re out of diapers! I’m going to the store, and you can stay here and look after your children until I get back.” She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Eric grumbled as he walked toward the kids’ room, still muttering insults under his breath about Cora being a terrible homemaker. An hour passed. The triplets continued crying, and Cora still wasn’t home.
“What is taking her so long?” he muttered, grabbing his phone to call her.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Finally!” he said, walking over. “Cora, how long can it possibly take to—”
But it wasn’t her. A police officer stood at the door.
“Does Cora live here?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” Eric replied cautiously.
“And are you her husband?”
He nodded again.
“I’m very sorry, sir,” the officer said gently. “But your wife was involved in a car accident and didn’t survive. We need you to come with us to identify her.”
Eric’s face went pale. Behind the officer, the glow from the candle-lit table flickered. The officer noticed it too and swallowed hard, saddened by the sight of a celebration that would never happen.
Still in shock, Eric called their neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, and asked her to watch the kids. At the morgue, his heart shattered when he confirmed the lifeless body was Cora’s. He broke down, consumed with guilt. After the funeral, he withdrew from the world, overcome with sorrow.
Days later, he wandered into the living room and saw the Valentine’s table still set—untouched since that night. The memory came rushing back. Then it hit him—he had never opened the gift.
With trembling hands, Eric picked up the box from where it had landed and slowly opened it. Inside were two plane tickets to Hawaii and a letter.
To my dearest Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day, love!
Guess what—I got a job! I noticed how tired you’ve been, carrying all the weight alone, so I started applying to companies. And just yesterday, I got hired!
I also spoke with Mrs. Nelson—she’s happy to watch the babies so I can work without worrying.
But that’s not all… see the tickets? We’re going to Hawaii, just the two of us!
(I have a few other surprises too, but you’ll find those out later, hehe!)
Love you always,
Cora
As Eric finished reading, he broke down in tears, sobbing like a child. There was nothing he could do to bring her back. All he could do now was live with the weight of that regret.
From that day on, Eric’s life was never the same. He never remarried, never looked for love again. Instead, he poured his energy into raising their children with care and love.
And every Valentine’s Day, he visits Cora’s grave—sitting beside it for hours, talking to her as if she’s still listening, sharing his thoughts, his regrets… and the apology he never got to say.