Cora Morales woke up that morning feeling light—like happiness was bubbling inside her chest. There was a sweet excitement in the air, and she couldn’t stop smiling. It was Valentine’s Day, and she had a whole surprise planned for her husband, Eric.
She sat in the living room with her to-do list, ticking off each little task as she completed it.
“Eric is going to be so surprised,” she whispered to herself, her cheeks glowing with joy.
Cora and Eric first met at a business conference in Texas. Both of them had grown up in foster care without real families, and during one long conversation, they discovered a dream they both shared: to build a big, happy family of their own.
That dream didn’t take long to come true. After just a few months of dating, they got married. Two years later, Cora gave birth to triplets—three beautiful babies who became their whole world.
But life wasn’t easy. Cora stayed home to take care of the kids, and Eric became the only one working. The stress of being the sole provider started to change him. He worked long hours, came home exhausted, and barely had time to rest on weekends. Every month ended with little savings, and the weight of it all sat heavy on his shoulders.
They hadn’t gone out for dinner or taken a trip in years. Eric pinched every penny, and Cora respected that. She was careful with their money, never wasting a cent.
Even on Valentine’s Day, she didn’t buy a new dress. Instead, she wore an old red one Eric had given her for their first anniversary. It was outdated, a bit snug, but it was special. She twirled once in front of the mirror and smiled.
By evening, she had prepared everything. The dining table was set with his favorite food—pasta Aglio e Olio, garlic bread, a heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake she’d baked herself, and a bottle of wine. She even placed a small gift box next to his plate. The living room glowed with fairy lights and scented candles.
When she heard the doorbell, she nearly jumped. “He’s here!” she gasped and ran to the door.
As Eric walked in, Cora kissed his cheek and said cheerfully, “Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!”
But the moment he stepped into the living room and saw the decorations, his expression changed. He looked angry.
“What on Earth is all this?” he snapped. “Cora, are we teenagers now? What’s with the rose petals and candles?”
Her smile faded. “What do you mean?” she asked softly. “I thought it would be nice…you’ve been so tired lately. I just wanted to make today special.”
Eric’s voice rose. “Special? I work all day and come home to THIS? You spent money on candles and wine while the sink is full of dirty dishes? Seriously, Cora?”
She tried to calm him down. “I didn’t spend much. I used ingredients we already had. Please, just sit down and taste the food. I made everything myself.”
Eric scoffed and sat down. He took one bite of the pasta and spit it out on the table. “What is this? It tastes horrible! What kind of sauce is this?”
“Eric, please! The babies are sleeping,” she said, rushing toward the hallway.
“They should be used to noise by now,” he shouted. “This is what I get for working so hard? A house full of screaming babies and disgusting food?”
Then he grabbed the gift box. “A gift? Are you serious?” He flung it to the floor. “I’m not a kid! I don’t need this crap! Have you even looked at the kitchen? Mountains of dishes! What were you doing all day—decorating with rose petals?”
Cora’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re impossible, Eric. I don’t even know who you are anymore.” She stormed off to the kids’ room.
But the babies had already started crying.
“Why can’t you keep them quiet?” Eric yelled from the living room. “You call yourself a housewife?”
Cora walked back, fire in her eyes. “They need diaper changes. And guess what? We don’t have any left! I’m going to the store. You stay with them!” she yelled, grabbing her coat. “The store’s a bit far, so it’ll take time.”
Before Eric could say anything else, she slammed the door behind her.
“Yeah, yeah! You’re a real homemaker, huh?” he muttered under his breath. He grumbled as he walked toward the kids’ room.
Minutes turned into an hour. The triplets kept crying, and Cora still wasn’t back. Eric walked into the living room, frustrated, and reached for his phone. “How long does it take to buy a pack of diapers?” he mumbled angrily.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
“Finally,” he said, walking over. “Cora, you—” He stopped mid-sentence.
It wasn’t Cora. A police officer stood on the porch.
“Does Cora Morales live here?” the officer asked, voice heavy.
“Yes,” Eric replied. “I’m her husband. What’s going on?”
The officer looked down. “I’m very sorry, sir. Your wife was in a car accident. She didn’t make it. We found her ID and address. You’ll need to come with us to identify the body.”
The color drained from Eric’s face. He stumbled backward. His heart raced. The room started to spin.
“I… I…”
The officer glanced inside the house, seeing the glowing candles and Valentine’s decorations. His face softened. This wasn’t just any home—this was a home that had love, even if it had been ignored.
Shaking, Eric called their neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, and asked her to come over and stay with the babies. Then he left with the police.
At the mortuary, the cold reality hit him. The pale, lifeless face lying on the table…was Cora.
“No,” he whispered. “No, no, no.” He broke down, sobbing, filled with guilt and pain.
The next day, after the funeral, he came back to the silent house. Everything was just as Cora had left it. The dinner table was still set, the candles melted halfway. He stared at it for a long time. Then he remembered.
“The gift…”
He searched the floor until he found the small box. He opened it with trembling hands. Inside was an envelope and two plane tickets.
His heart sank as he opened the note.
To the love of my life, Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!!! Guess what? I got a job!
I know you’ve been tired lately, carrying everything on your shoulders. So I started applying secretly…and yesterday, I got hired!
Also, I talked to Mrs. Nelson—she agreed to help take care of the babies while I work. I didn’t want to tell you until I had everything ready. But that’s not all!
Look at those tickets! We’re going to Hawaii! Just the two of us! I saved for months. I wanted you to rest, to smile again. I have more surprises planned, but I’ll keep those for later 😉
I love you more than words. Thank you for everything you do.
Always yours,
Cora ❤️
Eric’s hands shook as tears poured down his cheeks. He clutched the letter to his chest and cried like a child.
But it was too late. Cora was gone.
From that day forward, Eric’s life changed forever. He never loved anyone again. He worked hard, raised the triplets on his own, and gave them the best life he could.
Every Valentine’s Day, he visits Cora’s grave with flowers. He talks to her for hours—about the kids, his job, his worries, his regrets. He wishes he could say sorry.
But some things can’t be undone.
What can we learn from this story?
- Don’t assume the worst. Eric believed Cora was lazy, but she was working behind the scenes to support him.
- Words can cut deeply. In anger, we say things we don’t mean—and sometimes we never get the chance to take them back.
- Appreciate the love you have, while you have it. Because one day…you might lose it forever.