The Night Before Our Divorce, My Husband Crawled Into Bed and Said, “One Last Time”, Then Everything Changed

The Remote Island

I arrived at the remote island, which took nearly a day to reach from the mainland. The island was depopulated and about 3,000 people lived there.

I have visited the island once with my husband and was captivated by its natural beauty and the slow flow of time. My husband promised that we would return to the island once his work was completed.

I miss my husband, but maybe what I need now is the peace and quiet of that place. I quit my job and moved to this remote island a few months later after renting the house to someone else.

It was a risky move on my part, but I knew I couldn’t stay in my house any longer. I’m not sure how my husband paid off the mortgage, but I know he worked very hard.

But there were too many memories to keep living alone in the house. However, I didn’t want to waste my husband’s efforts, so I didn’t want to just let it go.

There are many strange things, but I can’t ask my husband about them anymore. I plan to spend time on this quiet island relaxing and letting myself go.

I began to adjust to island life and became acquainted with my neighbors. I had enough assets to live a normal life without working.

But I realized that doing nothing was even more depressing, so I started working as a sort of helper, assisting the elderly neighbors with their problems. I was initially treated as an outsider, but as I became more used to the work, I was relieved to be accepted as one of the islanders.

A Familiar Face

As I was settling in, I learned from a co-worker that a new client had arrived from the main island for medical treatment. He had become ill and had chosen this island as his final residence because there was no treatment available.

Moving to this island with no medical facilities would be difficult unless you are very prepared to move to this island in that condition. I was thinking that being in charge would be difficult when the new client asked for a visit and I was the only one free.

I had heard about his medical condition, so I was nervous as I went to his house. We arrived at the small house on a hill with a view of the ocean.

The house had been vacant for a long time and had been renovated to the point where it was livable, but it was really just enough to keep the wind and rain out. I questioned whether this was the best place for him to spend his final days with concern.

I rang the doorbell.

“Come in.”

A small voice said, barely audible.

I gave my usual greeting and entered. I found my client sitting in front of a window, the sun and wind streaming in.

I couldn’t see his face because it was backlit, so I squinted as I approached.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you today, sir.”

As I looked at the face that had turned to me, I was speechless. My husband—no, my ex-husband—sat there.

We were both taken aback. We just stood there staring.

My husband initiated the conversation.

“You found me out.”

He said.

He was mischievously smiling like before.

“What exactly are you doing here?”

I was so confused by my husband’s presence, the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be there, as well as the information I had heard at work, that I couldn’t speak properly. My husband grabbed my hand and forced me to sit next to him.

He sat next to me and held my hand until I relaxed. I couldn’t think of anything to say to him, and as I sat there, I heard a voice at the door.

I wiped my tears and opened the door where an elderly man stood. He seemed surprised to see my tear-stained face, but he bowed, went inside, and sat down next to my husband.

“How are you doing today?”

He inquired.

He spoke in a soft voice. My husband said that there was nothing unusual and began chatting with him.

The elderly man was most likely the island’s only doctor. I remembered my colleagues telling me that there were no inpatient facilities on the island and that the clinic nurse and doctor were the island’s lifelines.

So it appears that my husband came to the island to spend his final days here. Although it was his decision, I listened intently to their conversation.

I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help. My husband’s doctor left after about 10 minutes of casual conversation.

I couldn’t help myself and ran after him. I guess my flustered appearance startled him again, but when I told him of our relationship, he seemed to understand.

I questioned the doctor about my husband’s condition and future treatment, but he said:

“I can’t tell you without his consent.”

Maybe he felt sorry for me and said:

“He won’t be able to walk by himself very soon. It seemed a shame for him to spend his final days alone, so please be there for him.”