Una Mujer Pide El Divorcio Tras Ver Esta Foto

La Foto

Volvió a coger la foto y se secó las lágrimas mientras la miraba.

El corazón le retumbó en los oídos al darse cuenta de lo que le había ocurrido. 

Temblando en su sitio, arrojó la foto a los pies de su marido, pidiéndole que le explicara lo que estaba ocurriendo. Su respuesta la dejaría sin palabras. 

15 Años De Matrimonio

Sarah sólo había querido celebrar su 15º aniversario cuando sugirió que se hicieran la foto. Su marido, Klaus Parker, lo era todo para ella.

Después de los años que habían pasado juntos y la familia que habían construido, inmortalizar este momento a través de una cámara le parecía lo correcto.

Sarah no tenía ni idea de que esto marcaría el final de su matrimonio.  

Algo No Iba Bien

Debería haber sabido que algo iba mal desde el principio.

Klaus rara vez había sido reservado. Rara vez perdía los nervios.

Pero todo lo relacionado con la sesión de fotos parecía sentarle mal. Sarah pensó que estaba cansado; había sido un mes largo para él en el trabajo, con un posible ascenso en su futuro. Sarah debería haber sabido que esto era algo más.

Una Buena Vida

Sarah y Klaus llevaban una buena vida. Tenían una casa excelente y dos hijos preciosos.

Habían progresado mucho en sus carreras y mantenían el fuego que les había hecho atar el nudo quince años antes. 

De pie ante Klaus, con las lágrimas resbalando por su rostro, Sarah no pudo evitar recordar su primer encuentro. 

Atrás En El Tiempo

Estaba en su último año de instituto y tenía toda la vida por delante.

Klaus era el nuevo chico guay por el que todas las chicas de su clase suspiraban. Ella no entendía por qué tanto alboroto hasta que lo vio.

Era alto y delgado, con el pelo largo y rizado que le caía justo por encima de los hombros. Su mandíbula podía cortar el hielo y sus ojos eran lo más fascinante que Sarah había visto nunca. Todo en él auguraba problemas.

El Efecto Malote

Aunque odiaba admitirlo, Klaus la había cautivado incluso antes de que se dirigieran la primera palabra.

No sabía por qué, pero cada vez que él entraba en la habitación, su corazón latía descontroladamente.

Se le secaba la garganta y el sudor le empapaba la piel. Lo odiaba con toda su alma. Pero también sentía que se volvería loca si no hablaba con él.

Elígeme, Quiéreme

Pero Sarah había sido la chica tímida del colegio. Era muy reservada y sólo hablaba con otros alumnos cuando realmente lo necesitaba.

Pero de entre el mar de estudiantes con los que Klaus podría haberse sentado, la eligió a ella. 

Oyó que muchas chicas suspiraban por él, y entendió por qué. Ella no tenía ni idea de que forjaría una vida con él y aún así acabaría en desastre. 

Un Buen Ajuste

Sarah y Klaus se hicieron buenos amigos al principio. Pero al cabo de unas semanas, su amistad se convirtió en algo más. 

Sarah nunca entendió cómo se complementaban tan bien. Ella era tímida y reservada, y Klaus ruidoso y extrovertido.

Pero incluso ahora, no podía negar que había habido señales que le advertían de que no le convenía estar con él.

Comienza

Pocos días después de graduarse, Sarah descubrió que estaba embarazada.

Acababa de cumplir diecinueve años y planeaba estudiar Derecho, con la esperanza de ser abogada cuando fuera mayor.

Pero el embarazo lo cambió todo. Entre lágrimas, se lo contó a Klaus, insegura de cómo reaccionaría. Su respuesta le mostraría sus verdaderas intenciones.

Un Camino A Seguir

“Vamos a quedárnoslo”, sugirió Klaus, y Sarah se echó a reír a pesar de que las lágrimas le teñían los ojos.

“Hablo en serio”, continuó Klaus. “Sé que será difícil, pero lo tenemos”.

Cogió la mano de Sarah, prometiéndole que estaría a su lado y al bebé contra viento y marea. Ella pensó que estaba bromeando hasta que él se arrodilló y le pidió que se casara con él. 

Cásate Conmigo

Sarah apenas tenía 20 años cuando sucedió, pero dijo “sí” a pesar de todo. Ella y Klaus pensaron y trazaron un plan para su futuro. 

Con la ayuda de sus amigos, se casaron y formaron una familia, al tiempo que compaginaban sus estudios y, más tarde, sus incipientes carreras profesionales.

Nada de eso fue fácil, y Sarah se sintió agradecida cuando salieron intactos del otro lado. Pero el final estaba más cerca de lo que ella pensaba.  

Una Lucha

Sarah miró la foto mientras sus manos se cerraban en puños. Intentó contener las lágrimas que amenazaban con caer. ¿Cómo pudo hacerle esto?

Recordó sus primeros días con Klaus. Su relación no fue fácil al principio. Habiendo tenido un hijo en la adolescencia, de repente se vieron arrojados a la edad adulta.

No tenían dinero y lucharon durante años para conseguir finalmente la vida cómoda que tenían ahora.

Una Pequeña Boda 

El tiempo había pasado volando. Sarah aún podía sentir las abrumadoras mariposas que zumbaban en su estómago cuando Klaus se arrodilló y le pidió que se casara con él.

Su boda, aunque pequeña, había sido impresionante. Habían esperado dos años para celebrarla, y su hijo había llevado los anillos hasta el altar, sonriéndoles mientras lo hacía.

Pocos años después tuvieron a su segundo hijo y, por un momento, la vida fue perfecta. Pronto todo cambiaría.

Es Sólo Una Foto

Sarah quería algo para conmemorar los años que había pasado con Klaus.

Quería celebrar lo que habían construido juntos, especialmente sus hijos, que eran el centro de su mundo. 

Pero en cuanto mencionó lo de hacer fotos de aniversario, Klaus perdió la cabeza. Sarah no podía entender por qué estaba tan en contra de hacer las fotos. Pero eso no era todo.

No En El Mismo Marco

Su aprensión le hizo darse cuenta de algo que había ignorado durante años. Sarah no recordaba la última vez que Klaus y ella habían salido en la misma foto. 

Su Facebook e Instagram estaban llenos de fotos de él y sus hijos, a veces individualmente o juntos.

Pero no había ninguna de los últimos años en la que Klaus y ella compartieran el encuadre. Esta asombrosa constatación hizo que Sarah se preguntara si se estaba perdiendo algo.

Prioridades

Decidió no darle más vueltas al asunto y, en su lugar, optó por buscar fotógrafos en la zona.

Quería encontrar a alguien que hubiera perfeccionado el arte de la fotografía.

El proceso no duró mucho, ya que había un fotógrafo que parecía encantar a todo el mundo. Sarah se puso en contacto con ella, tratando de no fijarse en por qué Klaus había estado tan en contra de aquello.

Hacer Planes

Sarah dejó atrás todo lo que había pasado con Klaus.

Últimamente había estado muy nervioso, debido a un ascenso laboral al que llevaba echándole el ojo desde principios de año. 

Habló por teléfono con el fotógrafo y fijó la fecha de la sesión de fotos. Incluso creó un espacio encima de la chimenea para la nueva foto. Lo que no sabía era cómo terminaría todo esto. 

Decírselo

Una vez fijada la fecha, Sarah informó a Klaus de su próxima cita con el fotógrafo.

Pero él palideció de inmediato, preguntándole por qué había reservado una sesión de fotos cuando él le había pedido que no lo hiciera.

Sarah le dijo que una sesión de fotos no era algo por lo que enfadarse. Le explicó que sabía que tenía muchas cosas que hacer. Por eso había organizado la sesión sin molestarle. Pero su respuesta le demostró que algo estaba pasando.

Rock, Paper, Castle

“Let’s go to dinner,” Klaus suggested. “We can take the kids to Mom’s place and have the weekend to ourselves.”

He sweetened the pot when he realized Sarah wasn’t biting the bullet.

“If dinner doesn’t work for you, let’s take a trip! I can get some time off and fly us to Eastern Europe. We can visit Dracula’s Castle. I know how much you’ve wanted to see it in real life.” His face split in a dazzling smile, and he took Sarah by her fingers. “What do you say?”

A Trip Sounds Great

“A trip, huh?” Sarah asked with a grin, rubbing her thumbs against his knuckles.

Klaus had always known how to get to her. Dracula’s Castle or Bran Castle in Romania had been on her bucket list for almost a decade. 

But with her career and kids, she’d never had time to travel. Staring into Klaus’ mesmerizing eyes, she wondered if a trip across the pond was better than a simple photograph taken at the park.

What Is He Hiding?

But Klaus’ determination to bar her from the photoshoot made her want to take it even more.

He’d long been against traveling the world, mentioning expenses and their need to save instead of spending.

Why was he ready to take a trip across an entire ocean today? It was becoming clear that he was hiding something. Sarah needed to get to the root of it before it was too late.

I’ll Take The Photo

“Let’s just take the photo,” she said while fixing Klaus’ collar. She lightly licked her forefinger and rubbed a jam stain off the side of his lower lip.

“We have so much going on here that we can’t be taking spontaneous vacations like this,” she said.

Their firstborn, Darius, was about to join college, with their youngest, Ella, starting middle school. They had too much going on. 

He’s In!

Seemingly defeated, Klaus agreed to her request.

But he mentioned that he couldn’t take long at the shoot since he had a few work-related projects to return to. 

Sarah side-eyed him when he said this, mainly because he’d just suggested they travel to Romania. How could he have handled his work projects if they were half a world away from his home office? Something was up.

Photoshoot Day

Sarah, Klaus, and their kids went to the photoshoot first thing on Sunday morning.

Fall was in full bloom, with orange leaves dancing in the winds and gray clouds staining the skies. 

Everything was going well until the photographer came, and Sarah, who had made the mistake of not meeting her before, had to step back. 

Beauty

The photographer was raw beauty-made flesh. Even Sarah’s son was enthralled by her and openly ogled her until Sarah bumped him in the shoulder. 

But Klaus was quiet all through the interaction.

He didn’t even look the lady in the eye, which was odd because he always did that, maintaining that it intimidated people. 

Her Perfect Family

The photographer had already decided on the perfect place for them to take the anniversary photos.

She placed everyone in their designated spots without wasting time and prepared to snap away. 

Sarah felt a sudden jolt of excitement. She looked blissfully at her family, at everything she and her loving husband had built. She was filled with so much gratitude and love, but when she looked at Klaus, she noticed something in his expression that didn’t match hers.

Nervous

Instead of looking happy, he seemed oddly nervous. He was fidgeting with his hands as he prepared to step into the photo.

When Sarah asked him what was wrong, he shrugged her off and maintained that everything was fine.

But after fifteen years of marriage, she could tell when something was bothering him. That’s when he asked the photographer a curious question.

The Email Issue

“Could you send the photos to my work email?” Klaus asked as soon as the photo shoot was done.

“She already has my personal email, honey,” Sarah cut in, oblivious to what was happening right before her eyes.

But Klaus insisted that since he had a printer at work, it would be better if he got the photos first. Why was he so interested all of a sudden when he’d been against this since the beginning?

Damage Control

Additionally, Klaus had never been one to care about, let alone be involved with family photos.

This had long been Sarah’s domain. Sometimes he had no idea she’d taken pictures of him until they were up on her social media.

His insistence on having the anniversary photos sent straight to his email had Sarah raising an eyebrow. Suddenly, she began to worry and become suspicious. What was going on?

Keep It In

Knowing causing a scene at a park and in front of her kids was never the way to go, Sarah bottled up everything.

She blocked Klaus’s behavior away from her mind, focusing on the shoot instead. 

Keeping calm as best as possible, she stood where the photographer told her to stand, posing and smiling as the camera’s light flashed. This was the calm before the storm. 

Stay In Control

Sarah kept her head leveled throughout the shoot.

But although she looked chirpy and delighted on the outside, her mind was running races, trying to untangle this weave her husband had thrust her into. 

She couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in his mind. But she would eventually see the reason in the photo, and it would flip her whole world upside down.

Going Home

Sarah agreed to have the photos sent to Klaus.

She kept her smile on display throughout the session and on their way home. She couldn’t have Klaus knowing that she was onto him. 

He seemed relieved now that the photo shoot was over. He even went to watch a documentary in the living room, sipping a scotch and smoking a cigar as if he was celebrating.

They’re Here 

The following day, he received the photos from the photographer and sent them straight to Sarah, who had been at work.

Excitement flooded her veins as she clicked on the photos, eager to see how they’d turned out. She couldn’t wait to post them on Facebook and Instagram.

But a minute after looking at the photos, she realized something was very, very wrong. 

Ella And Klaus

Her daughter, Ella, was holding Klaus’s hand, which Sarah could remember wouldn’t stop shaking that day.

Klaus usually fidgeted with his fingers when he was nervous. In recent years, he’d formed a habit of letting Ella play with his fingers. 

Sarah had always loved this about him. The fact that their daughter could calm him in this manner really melted her heart. But today, it was a pointer to what was truly happening behind the scenes. 

His Fingers

A curious Sarah zoomed in on Klaus’s fingers, her brows knitting as she leaned closer to her computer screen. 

She stared at the awkward interaction between Ella and Klaus, trying to decipher what was going on with her husband.

It was then that she saw the evidence that her marriage was in trouble. 

Close The Door

Sarah’s eyes widened as she stared at the ring she’d given Klaus on their wedding day, and her heartbeat picked up.

“No,” she mumbled to herself, hurrying up to close her office door. 

She selected all the photos and pressed print, knowing this needed to be examined in physical form. How could he do this to her?

Print It Out

The printer couldn’t get the photos out fast enough, and Sarah grabbed each of them as soon as they came out of the machine. 

She thumbed the warm paper, searching for the one that had gotten her this frantic.

Finding it, she lifted it close to her eyes. Her heart pounded her ribcage as her breath hitched. The photo slipped out of her hand, hitting the floor. 

The Wedding Ring

Sarah’s eyes widened as she stared at her own wedding ring.

She studied every curve, trying to compare it with what she’d seen in the picture. 

She could still remember the one she gave Klaus on their wedding day. Her mind raced as to why he would be wearing such a thing. There was no way she was mistaken about this. 

Comparing Them

Fighting back tears, she reached for the photo again and compared the two rings.

Her heart seemed to shrink as she came to the startling realization.

The ring on Klaus’s finger wasn’t hers. She ate back a cry, her head spinning at the discovery. She reached for her chair, plopping down helplessly. But if the ring wasn’t hers, then who did it belong to?

Stay Rational

Sarah tried to rationalize what she’d just seen.

Everything had an explanation, and she desperately wanted to believe that whatever was happening here didn’t equate to Klaus being untrue to her. 

She tried to come up with answers that would explain the situation but could think of none. The image of Klaus’s behavior throughout the previous week and at the photo shoot suddenly invaded her mind. She held in a retch, knowing then that her marriage was in danger. 

What To Do Now

Sarah felt sick where she sat. Her stomach wouldn’t stop growling and threatening to send up the breakfast she had that morning.

Her knees, ankles, and wrists ached with an unknown pain, and her heart felt like someone had drenched it in acid. 

She thought about calling Klaus to explain what was happening. Then she considered driving to his office to get the answers in person. She needed to know what he was hiding from her. 

Home Alone

Despite the anger, despair, and shock burning through her veins, Sarah decided to wait until she and Klaus got home to confront him. 

She drove home immediately, stewing in her thoughts, until her husband showed up a few hours later.

Why wasn’t he wearing her ring anymore? Whose ring was on his hand? How did she not notice until now?

Don’t

When he walked through the door, she finally got her answers.

With puffy eyes and a distressed voice, Sarah shoved the photo before his face and demanded he explain what was going on.

He stared at it for a second, feigning surprise. “Is everything okay?” he asked. He tried to take Sarah’s hand, but she backed away. “Don’t,” she sneered.

Are You Okay?

Klause wilted under the weight and pain in her voice. Yet again, he asked her if she was okay.

But Sarah pointed at the photo and asked him to explain himself.

The act was finally up. All these years of pretending nothing was wrong were spoiled by one picture. A picture that led Sarah to file for divorce. What did he have to say?

Tell Me Now

“Sarah,” he began with his eyes cast to the floor. “I didn’t know how to tell you.” “Tell me now,” Sarah cut him short, “And be quick about it.”

“Okay. It happened four years ago when I went to the gym. I took off the ring to shower, but it was gone when I returned to my locker.

I didn’t know how to tell you, so I bought another similar one.” But Sarah wasn’t buying.

A Defensive Weapon

She looked at him blankly, her tears flowing peacefully as she sniffled and listened to him talk.

He’d always been a sweet talker, using his words to make her blush and giggle. But today, he used them as a defensive weapon.

“I wanted the photos first to see if the ring was noticeable,” he added after a spell. “When I saw that it was, I tried to photoshop the one from our wedding photo, but it was too blurry.” Sarah still stared at him.

Hear Me Out

“You have to believe me,” he said and stepped closer to her.

But she inched back, shooting him a glare that made him flinch. 

“I didn’t want you to be upset. I was trying to avoid this very situation, Sarah.” “Were you now?” Sarah’s voice had never been softer, yet it carried such poison that even she winced. “Please hear me out,” Klaus said.

The Words Of A Liar

Klaus continued talking, but all Sarah could hear were the words of a liar. None of them made any sense. If he genuinely lost the thing, why couldn’t he have just told her the truth when it happened?

The two had rarely kept secrets from each other. Sarah always shared things with him, whether mundane or of the world’s staggering variety.

Even their kids usually made fun of how they told each other everything. And now Sarah was discovering that he’d kept such secrets from her.

It Doesn’t Make Sense 

Klaus’s story wasn’t adding up. He started telling her she was looking too deep into a matter that was as shallow as a pond.

“No need to grow mountains from anthills,” he said. 

He even called her crazy to think he’d ever be unfaithful to the vows they shared on the altar. If anything, she was the one hiding things from him, projecting all these allegations to make herself feel better. 

A Quiet Storm

Sarah kept quiet as he continued talking. She could see him switch from being angry to sad in seconds, and she knew he was doing this on purpose to deter her from her mission.   

“I need the truth,” Sarah finally said, wiping the last of her tears and sitting on the bedroom settee.

“Where and why did you get the ring? And please, Klaus. The truth.”

Do Your Worst

He slumped on the bed, his head falling on his palms.

He rubbed a hand up his face, sleeking his hair back in one motion before chuckling. 

“I told you. I lost the original one at the gym and bought the one I have now.” When he looked up, his face had morphed. He no longer seemed apologetic and smirked as if challenging her to do her worst. 

Stalemate

The two were at a stalemate. They looked at each other for minutes before Klaus stood up and started pacing all over the bedroom. 

He sighed, repeating what he’d been saying since he got home.

He insisted he didn’t tell her out of fear of disappointing and upsetting her, not because he was hiding something – or someone.

A Symbol Of Her Love

But for Sarah, everything was suddenly starting to feel like a lie.

That ring meant so much to her. It symbolized her love and a testament to how much she was willing to sacrifice for Klaus. 

They got pregnant in their teenage years, and when Klaus asked her to believe in him and themselves, she did. She agreed to raise a kid when she herself was still young. That ring had been more than just a wedding token.

No More Tears

“It was a physical manifestation of what I was willing to do for you,” Sarah whispered.

She felt the tears returning to her eyes, yet none reached her eyelids. They all drained back to where they came from.

“That ring represented so much, Klaus. But I would have been okay if you told me you lost it. But you didn’t. You chose to lie.” Klaus’s answer would send her over the edge.

Mistake 

“I did it to protect you,” he said, walking to her with a smile. “Look at you, all upset and crying.”

He expected to find a cat purring up at him with adorable eyes. But he got a mountain lion ready to make a meal out of him.

Sarah shot to her feet and stormed out of the room. Her kids were just arriving home, and she spent a few minutes telling them she was visiting their grandma’s place for a few days. Did any of them wish to accompany her?

The Next Step

Little Ella wasted no time running for a packed suitcase.

Darius followed suit, saying he needed some time away from their neighborhood and that he’d missed his grandma.

Klaus wanted to speak as soon as the kids hurried out of sight, but Sarah glared at him. He shook his head and returned to his pacing. 

Going To Grandma’s

Sarah was quiet as she and her kids drove to her mother-in-law’s house.

She could have gone to her parent’s house or her sister’s. But she needed to let her in-laws know what was happening before she brought her wrath down on their son. 

Her mother-in-law was sweet and understanding and asked her to follow her heart. A week later, Sarah filed for divorce. But was this the right decision?

Working Through It

Sarah and Klaus separated. But after a few weeks of misery, Klaus came crawling back. He was emaciated and rugged, relentlessly trying to convince Sarah that he’d learned the error of his ways.  He needed a do-over.

Eventually, he wore her down, and Sarah agreed to a coffee. There was a familiar glint in his eyes that had faded away a long time ago. Maybe the boy she’d fallen in love with all those years past was still in there.

To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.