My husband’s computer
On a November morning in 2024, Sarah Coleman stopped in front of her living room table. Daniel’s laptop was there, as usual. Never before had she thought to open it. But that morning Sarah had a reason to open it. With trembling fingers, she entered the password and the screen unlocked silently. Sarah still did not know what lay ahead.
Family.”
The unlocked screen was lined with familiar icons. There was one folder among them that Sarah had never seen before. Its name was “Family. She thought it might be a photo of the family. But as she hovered her mouse over it, her finger stopped. She felt that if she opened this folder, something would change forever. Still, Sarah’s fingers were silently pressing down on the click.
Unknown family members
Spread across the folder was a scene Sarah had never seen before. Strange women, strange children, and Daniel’s face, full of smiles, filled the screen. It was a smile that Sarah had never seen before, a smile that was somehow liberating. Sarah still did not know what that picture meant. But she could clearly feel the blood running cold throughout her body. Who in the world was this woman?
Autumn, 12 years ago
It was the fall of 2012 in Austin. Sarah, a graduate student, met a man at a friend’s barbecue party. Daniel Coleman, a man with a warm smile who listened attentively to the end of what people had to say. She still vividly remembers the look on Daniel’s face when he said, “I really like the way you talk. The only thing that remained like a small thorn in her memory was the fact that Daniel was out of his seat that night and on a long phone call. His face was perfectly natural as he smiled and said, “It’s a work call.”
The Night of the Proposal
After two years of dating, Daniel proposed to her on a hilltop at Mount Bonnell. He got down on one knee and said, “I will protect only you for the rest of my life,” and there were genuine tears in his eyes. Sarah said “yes” without hesitation. But later, she realized something. A week before he proposed, there was a period of three days when Daniel was completely unreachable. Where had he been and what had he been doing during those three days?
Shadows of Newlywed Life
After their marriage, they bought a small house in a suburb of Austin. Daniel worked as an IT consultant and Sarah as an elementary school teacher. They were happily newlyweds, but Daniel always had a “business trip to Houston” once a month. Every time he came home, he looked a little tired, and Sarah thought he was a “hard-working husband. It was not until much later that Sarah learned the real reason for his fatigue.
Disappearing savings
In the third year of marriage, Sarah looked at her bank book and tilted her head. Every month, she found hundreds of dollars in deductions for expenses she did not remember. Daniel quickly replied, “It’s a joint office expense that will come back to you on your tax return. Sarah didn’t pursue the matter further. But the debit never stopped for the next 12 years. The day the total amount was revealed, Sarah lost her voice.
Children’s story
After five years of marriage, Sarah confided to Daniel that she wanted children. After a short pause, Daniel smiled and said, “When you are a little more settled in your work. The conversation repeated itself several times, and before long, the subject naturally disappeared from their lives. Sarah thought, “Maybe someday,” and did not pursue it further. However, she still did not know the meaning of that momentary pause that Daniel would show whenever the subject of children came up.
The Mask of the Perfect Husband
Daniel was the undisputed “perfect husband”. He never forgot an anniversary and always sent Sarah her favorite flowers on her birthday. Whenever her neighbors told her what a wonderful couple she and her husband were, she felt proud. However, an overly perfect husband is sometimes a sign that he is “desperately hiding something. The moment when that mask would crumble was just around the corner.
Last peaceful night
A few hours before the fateful night, Sarah and Daniel were watching TV in the living room as usual. Daniel had his arm around Sarah’s shoulders and was smiling peacefully. Daniel said, “Let’s go on a trip next month,” and Sarah asked, “Where would you like to go? Sara asked back, “Where do you want to go? She still doesn’t know if Daniel’s smile was genuine or an act. Half an hour later, it all began.
