As soon as I received the job offer, I was under the impression that it marked the beginning of a brand-new chapter for both of us.

The annual amount is six hundred and forty thousand dollars. The amount that I was already making was more than doubled.

It was not merely a promotion; rather, it was an opportunity to rewrite the course of our future.

When I was ready to inform Sarah, my wife of 10 years, I recall walking through the front door with a grin on my face and rushing through it.

I was still struggling to catch my breath when I exclaimed, “Babe, you are not going to believe this.”

When she looked up from her laptop, she had a frown on her face, which was the expression she wore when she was feeling the pressure of her work.

I informed her of the number, and her eyes widened in response. Six hundred and forty thousand dollars was the phrase that she repeated over and over again, as if uttering it aloud would make it more realistic.

On the other hand, when I went into further detail, the joy that had been on her face vanished. The employment was located in another country.

Initially, for a period of four months, then for a brief period of time at home, and then once more. merely for a year or two at most. A sacrifice, yet one that will result in life-altering benefits.

I anticipated tears of happiness and possibly even an embrace. On the contrary, she became icy. A quarter of a year away? That’s just too much time, Jack. I am not pleased with this.

I attempted to explain what the meaning was. There will be no more debt. She had been bookmarking the house on Zillow for a number of months. It’s time off. Liberation.

Despite this, she continued to become more subdued until she eventually excused herself from the room. It was the first time that I experienced it — the unease, the disconnection, and the feeling that something was concealed beneath her expression.

Sarah’s behavior changed over the course of the following week. Not only did she feel anxious, but now she was also distracted. Keeping things a secret. Not only did she never take her phone off her side, but she also tilted it away from her when I entered the room. As she glanced off into the distance, she began statements that she did not complete.

When I awoke at two in the morning, I was greeted by the illumination of her screen. In a sleepy state, I inquired, “Who are you talking to?”

As she hastily locked the phone, she uttered the name “Emma.” Nevertheless, her voice was too harsh, and her motions were too quick. What I felt in my stomach was not true.

Her “errands” ran in succession, and each one lasted for several hours. She became agitated when I attempted to bring up the discussion about the job. “Would it be possible for us to not do this right now?”

The offer seemed to have caused a rift between us, and it seemed as though something was leaking out of it.

David, my closest friend, was the one I confided in. I placed everything out atop a few beers. “I don’t get it. Sarah behaves as if I have just informed her that I am going for good, despite the fact that this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

David suggested, “Perhaps she is frightened.” This is a very long time, four months.

I contended that it would not last forever. “We have the ability to prepare ourselves for life. However, she is one of a kind. At a distance. Almost as if she is concealing something.”

David’s eyes became more small. “Is it worth putting your marriage in jeopardy for the money?”

His statements struck me more forcefully than I cared to admit. Or was I being self-centered? Or did Sarah’s response consist of something completely different?

After a few days, I was able to discover my solution, or at least a portion of it. I arrived home earlier than usual and found her on the phone, muttering to herself. She hopped up and down like a remorseful adolescent because she had noticed me. Her words, “Telemarketer,” came out far too rapidly. It did not convince me.

At long last, after being coaxed into opening up, she finally gave in. As she revealed the truth about what had been eating away at her, her eyes began to fill up.

What would happen if you did run into someone else over there? Her voice was soft. If you don’t come back, what will happen?

I was completely taken aback. Is that what she was afraid of? That I would be dishonest? I soothed her and swore that I loved her, and that neither my profession nor the distance between us could ever change that. For a brief while, I was under the impression that we had successfully repaired the crack.

Nevertheless, the blow that altered everything occurred at that moment.

After waiting for a few more nights, Sarah finally spoke the words that broke both of our hearts.

“In the event that you accept this position… Although you are gone, I might require some company. The company of men”

I looked at her, certain that I had misunderstood what she had said. Do you mean to imply that you would cheat on me?

Her eyes became less intense. I’m making an effort to be truthful. I do not wish to do so. On the other hand, I don’t believe I could survive so long without… closeness. I’m not sure if I have the strength to handle it.”

In that moment, I felt as though someone had punched me in the face. She reacted in this manner to the most significant opportunity of our life, which we had been together for ten years. There is no aid. And not even a single pause. Nevertheless, she made a public declaration that she would take my position as soon as I boarded the airplane.

Numb, I stood there. In a low voice, I murmured, “I understand.”

The look of relief spread across her face. Do you agree?

My voice became more resolute as I said, “Yeah.” “I am aware that our marriage has come to an end.”

In the evening, I gathered my belongings and headed to David’s residence. He made an effort to calm me down and serve as a reminder that when people are terrified, they often say things that they do not intend to say. However, I was unable to shake it. She hadn’t simply gone into a panic. She had a mental image of it. Considered doing so. It was spoken out loud.

How do you get back on your feet after that?

The following morning, my phone was flooded with her messages, which included apologies, requests to talk, and assurances that she did not in fact mean what she had said. Unfortunately, the trust had become irreparably damaged.

The position was accepted by me. I contacted a legal firm.

When I informed Sarah that I was going to file for divorce, her face became quite creased. “Jack, if you mind. You have my love. To put it simply, I was terrified! I would never actually go through with it.

However, I couldn’t help but think about what she had said. a group of men.

The marriage that we had worked so hard to build over the course of ten years was not robust enough to weather a year apart. That insight provided me with all of the information that I required.

During the time that I was signing the divorce documents, I reflected about the life that I had envisioned for us, including the house, the trips, and the future that we were supposed to create together. Following that, I reflected on the life that lies ahead of me, which is uncertain yet my.