Two Wives, One Husband—And a Hospital Bed
The world around me blurred. The beeping monitors, the hushed voices of nurses, the sterile scent of antiseptic—it all felt distant, unreal.
Yet, the woman in front of me? She was very real.
She looked like she had just stepped out of a glossy magazine—sleek blonde hair, a designer purse clutched in her trembling hands. But her wide, tear-filled eyes mirrored my own panic.
*”I’m Brian’s wife,”* I repeated, the words thick in my throat.
She blinked, swallowed hard. *”No. I’m his wife.”*
The silence between us stretched, heavy and suffocating.
Then, almost in sync, we turned to the receptionist.
*”Can we both go up?”* Stephanie asked.
The receptionist hesitated but nodded, likely sensing that this was far bigger than hospital protocol.
Facing the Truth
We rode the elevator in silence, the hum of the machinery the only sound between us. But words weren’t needed. I knew what she was thinking. She knew what I was thinking.
And we both knew one thing for certain—Brian had made the biggest mistake of his life.
When we reached his room, the sight of him nearly made me forget my fury.
There he was, covered in bruises, an IV attached to his arm, a bandage wrapped around his forehead. He looked pitiful. Weak. Vulnerable.
Good.
Stephanie and I stepped into the room at the same time.
Brian stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He squinted at me. Then at her.
Confusion flickered across his face. Then horror.
*”Oh… oh no,”* he croaked.
Oh yes, Brian.
Stephanie crossed her arms. *”Surprised to see us?”*
I stepped closer to the bed. *”Don’t strain yourself, honey. We wouldn’t want you having a heart attack on top of your accident.”*
His mouth opened and closed, no words forming. His face paled.
Stephanie scoffed. *”I should’ve known something was off. The long ‘business trips,’ the canceled plans, the stupid excuses.”*
I clenched my fists. *”You told me you were working overtime. All those late nights, those ‘emergency meetings’—were you just running between our houses?”*
Brian groaned, rubbing his temples. *”Listen… I can explain.”*
Stephanie and I exchanged a look.
Then we both burst out laughing.
A Reckoning
Brian tried to reach for my hand, but I yanked it away.
*”Save it,”* I snapped. *”You lied to us. You stole years from us.”*
Stephanie nodded. *”You played us both. And guess what, Brian? You lost us both.”*
His face crumpled. *”Wait, we can talk about this—”*
But we were already turning away.
Stephanie paused at the door, giving him one last look. *”Get well soon, Brian. You’ll need all your strength for the divorce papers.”*
And with that, we walked out.
Not as enemies.
But as two women who refused to be fooled again.