Be Happy: Echo of Doubt

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Salina sat in the dim glow of the evening light, her hands trembling as she held the envelope. The neatly penned name on the front—Catherine—stood out like an accusation. She had never felt the need to question Arthur before, but this letter, retrieved from his mailbox, had ignited a fire of doubt within her.

Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the crisp paper and began to read.

"Dear Arthur, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude. In my darkest days, you stood by me. Your kindness and support have meant more to me than I can express. I don’t know what I would have done without you."

Salina’s heart pounded. The words felt intimate, personal—too personal. The more she read, the more her stomach churned.

"There are some people who step into our lives at just the right moment, offering strength when we have none left. You have been that person for me. Thank you, Arthur, for being there in ways I can never repay."

Her fingers tightened around the paper. A deep unease settled in her chest. What did she mean by in ways I can never repay?

For years, Salina had been the foundation of her marriage—loyal, loving, and devoted. She had built a life with Arthur, raising their children, and supporting his ambitions. They had promised each other honesty, trust, and commitment. And yet, in this single moment, all those certainties felt like they were slipping away.

A million thoughts raced through her mind. Could this just be an innocent thank-you letter? Had Arthur simply been kind to a struggling colleague? Or was this the beginning of something more—something dangerous?

Salina’s thoughts spiraled as she sat in silence, replaying the past weeks in her mind. Arthur had been coming home later than usual, sometimes distracted, sometimes distant. She had brushed it off as work stress, but now she wasn’t so sure. Had she missed the signs?

Her hands felt cold as she placed the letter on the table, her gaze fixed on the front door. Minutes felt like hours as she waited for the sound of Arthur’s car pulling into the driveway.

Finally, the familiar creak of the front door opening snapped her back to reality. Arthur stepped inside, setting down his briefcase before looking up at her. His expression shifted immediately.

"Salina? What’s wrong?"

She didn’t answer. Instead, she slid the letter across the table toward him. Arthur hesitated before picking it up. His eyes moved over the words, his face unreadable.

After a long silence, he exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Salina… this isn’t what you think.”

Her chest tightened. “Then tell me what it is, Arthur.”

He placed the letter back on the table carefully, as though the weight of its meaning had just dawned on him. "Catherine is a colleague—nothing more. She lost her mother recently, and I just… helped her through it. That’s all."

Salina’s mind swirled with conflicting emotions. Relief. Skepticism. Hope. Doubt.

"Why didn’t you tell me about her before?" Her voice was quiet, but firm.

Arthur sighed. "I didn’t think it was important. I wasn’t hiding anything, Salina. She was struggling, and I lent an ear. That’s all."

But the question still lingered in her mind: Was that really all?

Doubt is a silent intruder, creeping into the spaces between words, between assurances, between moments once filled with certainty. Salina wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust that their marriage was unshaken, that this letter was nothing more than what Arthur claimed it to be.

But the unease wouldn’t leave her. Not yet.

Arthur reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "I want to believe you, Arthur. But tell me… if I hadn’t found this letter, would you have ever told me about Catherine?"

For a fleeting second, she saw hesitation in his eyes. And that hesitation was enough to make her wonder—was this truly just gratitude, or was there more to the story?

The truth was out there… but was she ready to face it?

Discover the full journey of love, doubt, and trust in Echo of Doubt.