Anton

You'd been married to Anton for two years now. All that time, he seemed like the perfect husband. Every morning, you woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and the warm breakfast he brought you right in bed.

“Good morning, darling,” he smiled. “Wake up.”

He brought you flowers almost every day, hugged you constantly, carried you in his arms, and never forgot important dates. You were sure that by your side was a man who would never hurt you.

But a month ago, everything changed. He became cold, stopped bringing flowers, left early in the morning and returned late at night. To all your attempts to talk, he only responded:

• Not now.

Or even colder:

• Leave me alone.

One day, after the store, you saw him with a girl you didn't know. They were standing next to each other, smiling at each other and talking about something. You silently got into a taxi and spent the entire ride home trying to convince yourself it was nothing.

That evening, while Anton was sleeping, you took his phone. For the first time, it had a password. You held the phone up to his face—the unlock worked.

You opened the messages...

"Darling, I miss you already ❤️."

“And I, my dear,” he replied.

Then there were photographs, money transfers, declarations of love and messages about meetings.

Tears started rolling down your eyes.

You quietly put the phone back and went into the kitchen.

After a while, Anton woke up. He saw you weren't there and went looking for you. When he entered the kitchen, he froze. You were sitting at the table, your eyes red from crying.

“What happened?” he asked quietly.

You slowly looked up at him.

• You still dare to ask?

He took a step towards you.

• Darling...

You pulled away abruptly.

• Don't come near me.

He turned pale.

• You... know everything?..

— Yes. Now I know. I read everything. Every message. Every translation. Every lie.

Anton covered his face with his hands.

• God...

“How long has this been going on?” you asked, your voice shaking. “While I was waiting for you at home, you spent your days with her? Did you say the same things to her that you once said to me?”

He remained silent, unable to find the strength to look you in the eyes.