It started as a playful prank—a note on my husband’s chest before his office Christmas party: “This is my husband. If you touch him, you’ll pay for it. – M.” He laughed, kissed me, and promised to return early. When he came home drunk, however, I found an unsettling addition above my note: “Keep the change.”
Doubts lingered, and days later, at my mom’s suggestion, I tracked his car. Instead of working late, as he claimed, the GPS led me to an unfamiliar house. Watching from outside, I saw him kiss another woman. When I confronted them, she said, “You deserve better. Men like him are spare change—easy to throw away.”
Our five-year marriage, once full of trust, had grown distant with his late nights and my remote work. But this Christmas gave me clarity. Heartbroken, I packed my bags and left. I now realize I deserve love, honesty, and respect.
