Valentine’s Day didn’t turn out the way Cora had hoped. It started with excitement, a sweet surprise for Eric, and the promise of a wonderful evening. But by the end of the day, everything changed in a way she never saw coming.
Cora had spent the morning in a cheerful bubble, not quite believing how happy she felt. Her heart raced as she double-checked her to-do list, making sure everything was perfect. The red velvet cheesecake she’d carefully baked in the shape of a heart, the wine, the food she’d prepared, and, most importantly, the gift she had for Eric. Her excitement grew as she imagined his smile when he saw what she had planned for them.
She remembered how she had met Eric at a business conference in Texas, both of them orphans raised in foster care. They had bonded over their shared past and dreamt of building a large, loving family. And their dream had come true quickly—they got married after just a few dates and, two years later, welcomed triplets into their lives.
But after the kids arrived, things started changing. Cora had to step in full-time to care for the children, while Eric became the primary breadwinner. He worked long hours, often feeling guilty for not spending enough time with his family. His stress grew, and money was always tight. They hadn’t been on a vacation in years, not even for special occasions. Eric was determined to save every penny, and Cora understood. She didn’t spend recklessly and did her best to stretch every dollar.
Even on Valentine’s Day, Cora had found a way to make it special without spending much. She wore an old red dress—one Eric had given her for their first anniversary. It wasn’t the latest style, but it was a memory she cherished, and it saved her money for other things.
By the time Eric was due home, Cora had set the table, arranged the candles, and placed the gift beside his plate. It was a simple evening, but one filled with love. As she placed the last candle on the table, she felt a surge of pride in what she had prepared.
“Perfect!” she whispered to herself, admiring the soft glow of the fairy lights.
Then the doorbell rang, and Eric was home.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” she said brightly, planting a kiss on his cheek as she led him inside.
Eric froze when he saw the candle-lit table, the rose petals scattered on the floor, and the elaborate setup. His eyes narrowed in confusion. “What on Earth is this, Cora? Are we teenagers or something?” he snapped, his voice filled with anger.
Cora’s heart sank. She had expected joy, not this. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did something happen at work?”
Eric’s face twisted with frustration. “Are you serious? Is this what I work my ass off for? So you can blow it all on… on this?” He gestured to the table in disgust.
Cora, trying to stay calm, responded, “Eric, relax. It wasn’t that expensive. I just wanted to do something nice for us.”
But Eric’s temper was out of control. He shoved his plate aside and took a bite of the Aglio e Olio, immediately spitting it out. “What’s wrong with this spaghetti? The sauce tastes like crap!” he yelled, startling their sleeping triplets.
“Eric!” Cora cried, feeling a pang of guilt for waking them up. “What’s wrong with you? The babies are sleeping, and now you’ve woken them up!”
Eric’s anger only grew. “So what? You’re at home all day with the kids, and you can’t even get the food right?” He pointed to the gift box on the table. “What’s this? A gift?” He flung it across the room, causing it to crash to the floor. “I’m not some kid you can impress with presents! And look at the kitchen—dishes everywhere because you were too busy with all this crap to take care of the house!”
Cora’s face burned with frustration. “You’re impossible! You’re not the man I married!” she shouted, storming off to the kids’ room. But the crying continued, making her even angrier.
“Why aren’t the kids quiet yet?” Eric called after her. “Aren’t you supposed to be the perfect wife? Can’t you do anything right?”
Cora snapped, her patience thin. “They’re crying because I need to change their diapers, but we’re out! And I need to go to the store, which is far away!” she yelled, slamming the door behind her as she left.
Eric stood in the living room, still fuming. He muttered to himself about how lazy Cora was, how she didn’t deserve to stay home and claim she was a housewife. As he made his way to the kids’ room, his mind was consumed with thoughts of how wrong everything was.
Time passed, and the kids’ crying didn’t stop. Cora still hadn’t returned. “What the hell is taking her so long?” Eric muttered, walking to the living room to grab his phone.
Then, the doorbell rang.
“Finally,” Eric thought, walking to the door. “Cora, how long does it take—” He froze when he saw the uniformed police officer standing at his doorstep.
“Does Cora live here?” the officer asked quietly.
Eric nodded, a strange feeling creeping over him. “Yes.”
“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” the officer said, his voice heavy. “Your wife was in a car accident. She didn’t make it. We need you to come identify the body.”
The words hit Eric like a ton of bricks. His face went pale. The officer peered inside and noticed the romantic setup in the living room. He regretted having to deliver such news, but there was nothing he could do.
Shaking, Eric called their neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, to look after the triplets while he went to the morgue. When he saw Cora’s lifeless body, all the anger and bitterness drained from him. He sobbed uncontrollably, realizing how much he had hurt her. After the funeral the next day, Eric shut himself away, unable to face the world.
The table Cora had set was still there, untouched, a silent reminder of what could have been. Eric’s eyes fell on the gift, still lying on the floor, and a wave of guilt crashed over him. He hurriedly opened the gift with trembling hands. Inside was a note and two plane tickets to Hawaii. He could barely read the note through his tears:
To the love of my life, Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!!! Guess who got a job this month? I saw that you were exhausted after working so much, so I applied for a few positions, and I got hired! I also spoke with Mrs. Nelson, and she agreed to look after the babies while I work. But that’s not all—look at the tickets! We’re going to Hawaii, just the two of us! There’s more to surprise you with, but that’s for later!
Eric’s tears fell freely. He had never felt so sorry, so broken. Cora had tried so hard to make things better, to show him that she understood how much he was working. But now it was too late.
From that day on, Eric’s life was never the same. He never fell in love again. He worked tirelessly to provide for his children, but every Valentine’s Day, he would visit Cora’s grave. He would talk to her for hours, telling her everything that had happened, wishing he could take back the words he had said, wishing he could apologize.
What can we learn from this?
First, don’t let anger cloud your judgment. Eric let his frustration and stress control him, making him lash out at the one person who loved him the most. And second, when you’re angry, take a moment to calm down. You might do or say things you’ll regret forever.
