“When a man (or woman) fell into a deep hole, it was usually a good idea to stop digging. ” When this human has enough of exploring the options to extricate himself or herself, and figured it out, they might return to the former life before they fell into the hole. Then it is up to their former family members, to welcome them back, or turn the cold shoulder.
TT’s wife was unaware her husband had planned a sort of mutiny and was going to abandon ship. TT’s sister telephoned her sister-in-law to warn that TT was convinced he should leave to seek his fortune elsewhere. This woman didn’t confront her husband. Instead she called me to talk about what she should do.
I have known her and her other half, for some years. I lived in the same apartment complex and we were neighbors, being a few blocks away. She was a freelance worker and her husband was the protector, defender, provider and backbone of his family. Now, he has thrown Responsibility to the wind. It blew Responsibility far, far away, into a foreign land. His obligation is over there.
I told her I thought she should try to persuade him to stay together. She said she couldn’t bring herself to confront him, and tell him that his sister had betrayed him and revealed his secret. He broke down and confessed to have made plans to quit his job and relocate elsewhere alone.
His wife couldn’t believe her ears. This wasn’t the man she married. She didn’t start the conversation to confront her husband because she wanted to believe her own version of events. She thought her husband would not abandon her.
The woman related the painful conversation with TT, when he said that if she wanted a divorce, she had to do all the work, hire her lawyer and email him the papers to sign.
Her hero fell from his pedestal, and shattered into more pieces than you’d believe. He packed his bags and left without revealing his new address. He said she could contact him via Yahoo Messenger, or email. His old cell phone number would stop working when he reached his overseas destination.
She struggled to survive. Her night became shorter as she stole working hours from early dawn, so that her day became longer. She earned enough to live but not to save.
Sometimes, her estranged husband used Yahoo Messenger or email to communicate to her.
Whatever caught his fancy didn’t stick. Four years later, he returned to his wife. He was a changed man from before, when he proudly said he wanted to seek his fortune elsewhere.
The End.
Related:
I thank Violet’s Lentz, for sharing her Literary Quotes prompts. I’ve used this quote as my inspiration to tell this story – “when a man fell into a deep hole, it was usually a good idea to stop digging.”- Sharon Kay Penman, A King’s Ransom.
Violet’s Lentz has shown her interpretation of this quote, in her story, posted at https://violetslentz.home.blog/2026/02/19/digging/
I’ve also used a second quote:
“fallen hero shatters into more sharp pieces than you’d believe.”- Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead
Violet’s use of this prompt is at https://violetslentz.home.blog/2026/01/15/increments/
What a heartfelt story you told to bring these two quotes together. Life has so many twists and turns. The only constant we are ever guaranteed- is change. I am so happy for the woman in this story as it appears her husband’s disappearance brought her much hardship.
Thank you so much for joining me and telling your stories!