On Valentine’s Day, what was meant to be a night full of love and warmth turned into a heartbreaking event Eric would never forget. That morning, Cora was joyful and excited, moving around the house with a happy spirit as she checked off the items on her list. She had planned a special dinner for Eric, dressed in the red gown he gave her on their first anniversary, and had baked his favorite red velvet cheesecake shaped like a heart.
The table was beautifully arranged with candles, fairy lights, a bottle of wine, and a wrapped present she eagerly anticipated him opening. Eric and Cora met at a conference in Texas and quickly bonded over their shared childhood in foster care. They married soon after and had triplets two years later. But life got tough as Eric took on all the financial stress while Cora stayed home with the kids. Eric was often exhausted and anxious about money, and special occasions became no different from regular days. Yet Cora was determined to make Valentine’s Day memorable.
When Eric arrived and saw the romantic setup and dinner, he did not respond with gratitude but with anger. He mocked her efforts, turned on the bright overhead lights, and accused her of wasting money. He criticized her cooking, raising his voice so loud that it woke their sleeping children. Cora, shocked, tried to soothe him, explaining that she had not spent much, but Eric refused to listen. He angrily spat out the food, threw the gift on the floor, and blamed her for not keeping up with the house chores.
Feeling hurt and shocked, Cora shouted back before rushing into the kids’ room. When the babies continued to cry, Eric became even angrier. Cora said she needed to buy diapers and would go to the store. She slammed the door on her way out, warning it would take some time since the store was far. Eric kept grumbling about her being a poor housewife as he tried to care for the children.
Nearly an hour passed with no sign of Cora. Growing worried, Eric grabbed his phone to call her. Just then, the doorbell rang. Expecting Cora, he opened the door but instead found a police officer. “Does Cora live here?” the officer asked. Eric answered yes, and the officer followed with, “Are you her husband?” Eric nodded. The officer took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry to tell you, but your wife was in a car accident. She didn’t survive. You need to come identify her.”
Eric stood speechless, his face paling. After arranging for their neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, to watch the children, he went with the officer to the morgue. Seeing Cora’s lifeless body broke him completely. The next day, after the funeral, Eric returned to a quiet house still filled with her loving touch. The candles were still burning, the untouched cheesecake waited, and the gift he had thrown on the floor remained there.
With trembling hands, he picked up the gift and opened it. Inside were two plane tickets to Hawaii and a heartfelt letter. In it, Cora revealed she had secretly started a job to help ease their money troubles. She had made arrangements with Mrs. Nelson to watch the kids so they could go on a vacation together. This trip was her way of expressing thanks and giving their relationship a chance to heal.
Overcome with grief and guilt, Eric broke down. That thoughtful surprise, meant to bring them closer, would never happen. From that day forward, Eric was never the same. He did not seek another partner or fall in love again. Instead, he devoted himself to raising their children. Every Valentine’s Day, he visited Cora’s grave, sitting for hours, sharing his thoughts and wishing he could say “I’m sorry” and show her how much she truly meant to him.
