Husband Keeps Sneaking Off, Has No Idea He’s Being Followed
All Alone
She woke up all alone in the bed that they shared. The instant her eyes opened in the darkness she felt her heart begin to race. This was no surprise to her. This wasn’t the first time he had snuck out of their bed in the middle of the night.
She heard an odd, mechanical sound from inside of the house. It was eerie. She quickly got up and onto her wheelchair to investigate the sound. She made her way to their garage and opened the door. What she saw immediately brought tears to her eyes.
Perfect Man
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Lucy and Derrick Burress met while Lucy was a college student. Lucy was a political science major when she saw him for the first time. It was love at first sight for Lucy. He was everything she ever wanted in a man.
Derrick studied applied sciences and was an Army veteran with the softest heart. She met him while he was visiting one of her friends. Everything seemed perfect with him. But things would change in time.
Encouraging Force
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Lucy was starstruck by Derrick. They shared each other’s interests. He always encouraged her to do more things she loved. He was an encouraging force in her life.
They loved going out and snowboarding, camping, and hiking together. It was a tradition for them to do these things together. But soon, trouble would emerge.
The Day Everything Changed
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The Burress family weren’t expecting the day that would change everything. On that day, Lucy, her husband, and their three children were driving up the mountain on their way to their favorite campsite. They were going to camp there for the weekend.
It was snowing. They didn’t stop but they drove slowly to avoid veering into the steep terrain. But that was when it happened.
Too Late
Facebook – Liz Soden
Lucy was driving when she noticed the enormous truck heading straight towards them. She could tell that the driver had lost control. (sociobits.org) He was trying desperately to stop the truck from toppling over.
Lucy slammed her foot on the brakes as Derrick grabbed the wheel. She clenched her jaw as she desperately tried to keep her car on the narrow road. But it was too late, there was nothing she could do.
Tragedy Struck
Pexels – Uriel Mont
They collided with the truck. Lucy closed her eyes while their car rolled through the bushes. She could hear the sound of the car’s metal frame getting crushed. All she could do was pray that her family would survive the crash.
Everything went black, but when she came to, she was laying in a hospital bed. Derrick and her sons surrounded her. She immediately hugged them as she sighed in relief. But then she realized that something was wrong.
Hard Time
Facebook – Liz Soden
She tried to move her legs, but she couldn’t. She was surprised when she realized that she couldn’t feel anything from her waist down. Her eyes filled with tears as she tried to swallow a sob.
The days following the accident were some of the most difficult days of her life. Just a month before, she had been hiking and climbing with her family, now she could barely get up from her bed. Her heart was broken, but she knew she had to keep going for her family.
Disappointment
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Lucy and Derrick went to countless doctors to try and beat the paralysis. A year passed, and all they were ever left with was disappointment.
Lucy realized that this was her reality now, so she had to settle in. She promised Derrick that life would be normal for them. He nodded, but then he began acting differently.
Acting Different
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Lucy could clearly remember the day that Derreck turned into a completely different person. They were about to go on a camping trip, their first one since the accident. But at the very last minute, Lucy backed out. She was afraid of being a nuisance.
She could see that it broke Derrick’s heart. She knew he wanted to say something, but he stayed quiet. That was when he began coming home late and sneaking out of their bed in the middle of the night. Lucy had to figure out why.
Hiding Something
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When Lucy opened the garage door, she found her husband hunched over a table with a soldering iron in his hand. The room was filled with a metallic smell. Next to Derrick stood an odd-looking machine.
“Honey,” Lucy called out for her husband. Tears sprung from her eyes, even though she wasn’t sure what she was looking at. He jumped off his seat at the sound of her voice. “You’re supposed to be in bed.” He said quickly as he covered the machine. What on earth was he hiding from her?
A Smoothie
Public Domain
“Do you need something?” Derrick said, hurrying over with his brows drawn up. “What do you have there?” Lucy jutted her chin at the covered contraption.
“A smoothie?” Derrick said, offering a cup that smelled like strawberries. At Lucy’s frown, he rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward chuckle. What he said made her tears double.
The Truth
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“When you saved us from that truck, you gave up a piece of yourself, so we could all live,” Derrick said. “I know I say this every day, but you’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.”
Lucy wiped her eyes, asking, “Then why do I spend my nights alone?” She couldn’t understand why her husband would rather sit here, amid cold metal, instead of with her in the warmth of their bedroom. Then Derrick pulled the cover from his machine.
The Truth On Wheels
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Lucy gasped, her breath hitching at what her husband was hiding. A massive wheelchair stood before her. It had tank treads and electric configurations.
“I couldn’t bear to leave you behind when we went camping,” Derrick said. “So, I put my applied science degree to work and built this. It’s not yet done, but all the essentials are functional. Wanna take it for a spin?”
True Joy
Facebook – Liz Soden
Although it was dark out, Lucy and Derrick moved the chair to their backyard. Lucy took a seat, loving how comfortable everything felt. She turned the chair on, surprised at how quiet it was.
“Move around, see how you like it,” Derrick said, enthusiastically jumping up and down. Lucy pushed the steering lever and the seat hummed before surging forward. She let out a hysterical laugh, keeping quiet when she saw the look on her husband’s face.
A Happy Ever After
Facebook – Liz Soden
“What?” Lucy asked, brushing back stray curls from her face. “That’s the first time you’ve genuinely laughed since,” he trailed off, but Lucy knew what he meant.
She steered her way back to him, cupping his face gently. “You’re awesome, and I appreciate you.” She placed a kiss on his forehead, then his lips. She wondered what she’d do without him.
