My wife’s 37th birthday party was on the same day as my best friend’s wedding. She refused to postpone, so I said, “Sorry. He’ll get married once, while you’ll have a birthday every year.” She just smiled. At the wedding, I got a text from an unknown number. To my horror, it said, “Your wife is dead.”
My heart sank. For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. I left the reception hall quietly, trying not to draw attention. My hands were trembling as I called her phone over and over, but it went straight to voicemail. A flood of thoughts raced through my mind — regret for not being there, confusion about the message, and fear of what I might find.
