One of the most important relationships we will have in our life is the one that we share with our significant other. It is a relationship that we hope will last for a lifetime.
The unfortunate reality for many who are married is the fact that marriage does not last in every case. Sometimes, it can even experience problems for the worst of reasons.
When we lose someone that is close to us, we often struggle with it in some way or another. Sometimes, we even need help to get through it, and that is what the woman in the following story was facing.
When Diana got home, she heard laughter coming from the bathroom. It wasn’t just any laughter; it was the familiar sound of her husband, Hamilton, and her sister, Evie. Feeling uneasy, she crept closer to the bathroom, where the door was slightly open. What she saw through the reflection in the mirror left her stunned—they were kissing.
Her heart began pounding as her mind raced to process the betrayal. She staggered back, her body trembling with disbelief. Could this really be happening? She felt her world start to crumble around her.
“Hamilton! I saw you two kissing! You and Evie, come out right now!” she yelled, her voice cracking with anger as she tried to compose herself. When no response came, she flung the door open, only to find Hamilton standing there by himself.
“Where is she? Where is Evie?!” Diana demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion and desperation.
“She is not here, Diana,” Hamilton replied, his tone defensive as he tried to justify himself. “This happens every single time you come home after visiting your therapist. You need to stop this! I was just getting things ready to surprise you and you ruined everything! Please stop doing this to yourself… and to me.”
Diana stared at him, her gut telling her something wasn’t right. She couldn’t bring herself to trust his words or believe his excuses.
Determined to find the truth, Diana began inspecting the bathroom. She checked behind the shower curtain, peered under the sink, and even opened every cabinet. But no matter how thoroughly she searched, Evie wasn’t there.
“Do you trust me now?” Hamilton asked, his frustration barely concealed. “There’s no one here.”
But Diana wasn’t ready to let it go. She wandered through the other rooms of the house, looking for any sign of her sister. Nothing. Hamilton’s suggestion that she might be imagining things made her second-guess herself for a moment. Then, they heard it—a faint splash coming from the bathroom. Was Evie hiding in the bubble bath all along?
Rushing back to the bathroom, Diana flung the door open, her heart pounding wildly. But once again, the room was empty. “How?” she muttered, her voice shaking with confusion. “I heard it… I heard the splash. Someone was here!”
Hamilton stood at the doorway, shaking his head and letting out a tired sigh. “There’s no one here, honey. Please! Relax!”
Diana felt her shoulders slump. Was it possible she was overreacting? Doubt began creeping into her mind, making her question everything she thought she had seen.
“I… I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I’ve just been so tired lately,” she admitted softly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I was so sure I saw Evie here!”
Hamilton reached out to comfort her. “Let’s forget this, okay? We need to talk about what’s really bothering you. So, what is it?” he said, his tone tender but insistent.
Diana lowered her gaze, her mind clouded with overwhelming thoughts. “I keep feeling like I’m losing my mind,” she confessed, almost whispering. “I think I’m losing you to someone, maybe my own sister.”
Hamilton reassured her with kind words, promising he would never betray her trust. But Diana couldn’t quiet the nagging doubts swirling in her mind. Images of a crying baby haunted her thoughts. “I can hear her crying,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “I can hear her crying, Hamilton.”
Hamilton’s voice brought her back to the present. “Diana! Diana!” he called out, his concern unmistakable. “Hey, why don’t you take a bath?” he suggested gently. “Look, you need to forget what happened that night. I’ll get your favorite bath bomb and prepare your bath. Alright?”
Although hesitant, Diana agreed. As she entered the bathroom, something caught her eye. Written in the fog on the shower door was “Kiss me!”, unmistakably in Evie’s handwriting.
Confusion swirled in Diana’s mind as she pointed Hamilton toward the foggy message. But when they both turned to look again, the writing had disappeared. Was she seeing things? Hamilton assured her that he would never cheat, but her trust was wavering with every passing moment.
The next day, Diana decided to bring her fears to her therapist, Dr. Carrey. “I think Hamilton might be cheating on me with my sister, Evie. There are signs, like her handwriting and her perfume — I can smell it sometimes when I get home.” she confessed, her voice filled with frustration and sadness.
Dr. Carrey listened attentively, jotting down notes as Diana poured her heart out.
“Anything else on your mind that you’d like to discuss?” Dr. Carrey asked, his calm voice inviting her to share more.
Diana’s gaze drifted as memories tugged at her mind. “I keep hearing this… sound. Like a baby crying in the rain… on the road. It’s unsettling. Keeps haunting me,” she said, her voice trembling under the weight of her emotions.
“A baby? Are you keeping up with your medication?” Dr. Carrey added, his tone steady, trying to ground her in reality.
Diana nodded slowly. “Yes, every day. And I’ve invited Evie over for dinner. I thought seeing her and Hamilton together might… might clarify things for me.” she explained, her decision seeming both brave and desperate.
Dr. Carrey’s eyebrows furrowed as he processed her words. “You’re planning a dinner with Evie? Tonight?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.
“Yes,” Diana replied firmly, her determination not to let the matter rest shining through. “I sent her a message this morning. She replied she’d come.”
“Diana, could you show me that text? The one you sent to your sister?” Dr. Carrey said, motioning for Diana to hand him her phone.
She complied, and he studied the messages carefully, his eyes narrowing in focus.
“What are you hoping to find out with this dinner?” he asked, his tone gentle yet probing.
“I need to know if I’m imagining things or if there’s something between them,” Diana admitted, her voice soft but resolute.
“These messages…” Dr. Carrey murmured, before looking directly at her. “you sent them to your sister?” he asked.
“Yes,” Diana replied honestly. She sighed deeply and continued, “Hamilton and I, we’ve had twelve good years, doctor. It was all perfect until Evie came to the city. Had I known my own sister would try to steal my husband, I would’ve taken Hamilton somewhere far away.”
“It’s good to confront these doubts,” Dr. Carrey advised, his tone supportive. “Now, about these strange sounds, you’ve mentioned—this baby crying—how often do they occur?” he added, encouraging her to open up further.
Diana looked down, her thoughts drifting as she tried to articulate her experience. “I can’t really say. It’s sporadic… when I’m alone, or even when Hamilton’s with me.” she admitted, her voice trailing off.
Dr. Carrey leaned forward slightly, his expression soft but focused. “It’s important to confront these feelings, not let them fester. We’ll work through this together, okay? You have nothing to worry about. Just try not to take too much stress.”
Diana nodded, a flicker of hope appearing in her eyes. A tentative smile crossed her lips as she rose to leave. “Thank you, doctor. I feel a bit lighter already. I need to get home early to prepare the dinner.” she said, clutching her bag.
That evening, at dinner, Diana kept a close eye on Hamilton and Evie. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She watched as they shared jokes about their work, each playful remark adding to her unease. Was there more to their laughter than what met the eye?
The subtle flirting between Hamilton and Evie only deepened Diana’s discomfort. She felt a storm brewing inside her and knew she couldn’t sit through this any longer. Excusing herself, she stepped into the kitchen and returned moments later with an elegant bottle of wine.
“Let’s toast to family ties,” Diana said, raising her glass high in an attempt to mask her emotions.
Evie offered an uncertain smile. “Okay, Diana, but why such a formal toast?” she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Diana’s smile held a trace of sadness as she answered. “It’s just that I’ve been thinking about how much you both mean to me, especially now, as I navigate through my… difficulties.”
“That’s what family is for, darling,” Hamilton responded warmly. “We’re here for you, always. By the way, this wine has such a unique flavor,” he added, savoring the drink.
“Yes, it’s quite the blend,” Evie chimed in, her voice lighthearted but cautious.
Diana let out a quiet chuckle. “This wine… it’s like the deceit hidden under the guise of family love.” she remarked, her tone carrying an edge that made the room grow tense.
Hamilton and Evie exchanged uneasy glances. “What do you mean?” Hamilton finally asked, his voice unsteady as he refilled his glass.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The secret messages, the laughter, her perfume… I saw it all.” Diana shot back, her words sharp and deliberate.
Suddenly, Evie began coughing violently. Her eyes widened in panic. “Wait… wha-what did you do with the wine?” she stammered, her voice breaking.
“It’s a special blend for you two. Merlot with a hint of retribution. Cyanide, perhaps!” Diana revealed, her tone unsettlingly calm.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Hamilton and Evie desperately tried to compose themselves. “Diana, this is madness!” Hamilton shouted as he rushed to the bathroom with Evie.
With a heavy heart, Diana whispered to herself, “Justice is served,”. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of her actions began to sink in.
Moments later, she found herself overwhelmed by the haunting sound of a baby crying. She panicked, muttering under her breath, “Wait! What have I done? Did I kill them? Did I kill my husband and sister?”. In her confusion, she called 911 and then Dr. Carrey, confessing everything in a desperate tone.
Dr. Carrey urged her to stay calm and wait for him to arrive. When he got there, he found her trembling on the floor near the bathroom. “Diana, what happened?” he asked, his voice steady but concerned.
“I… I poisoned Hamilton and Evie. I thought they betrayed me! I felt it was the right thing to do!” Diana confessed, her voice breaking as she pointed toward the bathroom. Her trembling finger indicated the spot where she believed their lifeless bodies were lying.
Dr. Carrey approached her carefully, his tone gentle but firm. “There’s no one here, Diana. Remember, you live alone?” he said, trying to guide her back to reality.
Diana shook her head, her mind refusing to grasp the truth. She insisted they were there. That was when Dr. Carrey revealed a startling reality. “You’ve been alone for two years, Diana. Your mind has been playing tricks.”
Diana’s breath caught as she tried to process his words. She argued that she had been texting Evie, but Dr. Carrey showed her the messages were sent to herself. He explained how her mind, burdened with grief, had created a false narrative to cope.
Dr. Carrey then reminded her of the tragic accident two years ago. He recounted how they had been returning from a dinner when Hamilton insisted on driving. Diana had protested, but fate had other plans.
“I couldn’t save them…” she whispered, her voice trembling with regret. “I just couldn’t…” she added, her tears flowing freely.
Dr. Carrey looked her in the eyes, his voice steady as he spoke. “What happened that night, Diana, was a tragic accident. It was not your fault. You didn’t kill them. You’ve been creating a false reality to cope with your guilt and grief. But it’s time to accept the truth.”
As Dr. Carrey’s words sank in, Diana began to see through the fog of her delusions. The betrayal she had imagined was her mind’s way of escaping the unbearable pain of loss. She started to understand the reality she had been avoiding for so long.
Dr. Carrey showed her the phone logs, proving there was no call to 911, only to him. Diana broke down, overwhelmed by a mix of relief and sorrow. Her grief for Hamilton, Evie, and their unborn child was raw and unfiltered as she clung to Dr. Carrey for solace.
For the first time, she began to let go of the imagined betrayals that had tormented her for years. She accepted the truth of her loss and started to face the difficult road ahead.
A year had passed since that life-altering moment.
Diana sat in Dr. Carrey’s office once more, but this time, the atmosphere was different. The burden she had carried for so long had lifted slightly. Her eyes, once heavy with sorrow, now held a glimmer of hope. She was beginning to heal.
“Diana,” Dr. Carrey greeted her with a warm smile. “it’s good to see you again. How have you been?” he added, his tone kind and encouraging.
Diana smiled back, her response filled with newfound optimism. “I feel better, Dr. Carrey. I’ve been learning to live again, to honor their memory without the guilt.”
“So, how has your husband been?” Dr. Carrey inquired, watching her closely for any signs of discomfort.
“It’s been three years since Hamilton passed away. I’ve not only lost him but also my beloved sister, Evie.” Diana admitted, her voice steady yet touched with lingering sadness.
Dr. Carrey nodded, recognizing the strength she had shown in moving forward. “You’ve done exceptionally well, Diana,” he said sincerely. “I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”
Just as their session came to a close, a nurse entered the room to remind them that Diana’s appointment had ended. Diana stood, ready to face the world outside.
“I’ll stay in touch, no matter how far I go, doctor,” Diana assured Dr. Carrey as she gathered her things.
As she stepped out of the office, she noticed a stranger holding a baby nearby. Her heart softened, and she smiled warmly at him. “Hi,” she greeted, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Could I hold the baby for a moment?”
Meanwhile, Dr. Carrey remained seated in his office, reviewing Diana’s latest reports. But something caught his attention. When he glanced toward the door, his face froze in shock.
Diana was standing outside, seemingly cradling an invisible baby in her arms. A shiver ran through Dr. Carrey as he realized the depth of her ongoing struggle.
“We have a long way to go, Diana,” he whispered under his breath, acknowledging the long road ahead. “A long way.”
