SENT MY HUSBAND ON A BUSINESS TRIP, AND A FEW HOURS LATER I SAW HIM A RESTAURANT WITH A STRANGE WOMAN Marina always made sure to pack her husband Alexey’s suitcase whenever he had a business trip. For her, it was a small but meaningful ritual of love and care

I Sent Him on a Business Trip — Then I Saw Him in a Restaurant
Introduction / Scene Setting
I remember the morning clearly. The light through our bedroom window was soft, the smell of coffee in the kitchen was warm. I kissed him softly before he left, kissed him quite a few times, as if reminding myself he was mine. The suitcase rattled slightly by the door. He adjusted his tie, we exchanged brief smiles, and drove off into the day.

I tried not to watch until he disappeared around the bend. After that, I went about my normal tasks — laundry, errands, answering emails. But in the back of my mind, a quiet thought haunted me: He’s far. He’s somewhere in another city.

By late afternoon, I’d gotten a message from a mutual friend: “Hey — saw your husband today in town. He was dining.” My heart thudded. I brushed it aside. Maybe it was nothing: business dinners happen. Perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity.

Still, the message stuck. I couldn’t ignore it.

The Search & The Discovery