I didn’t think a gold necklace would show up on my doormat one normal morning, but it did. As the days went by, more jewellery showed up, which made me feel confused and uncomfortable. Who left these gifts, and why? My husband Matt said it was just a joke, but I felt like it was something more evil.
To find out the truth, I set up a camera and got Tara, the woman, leaving the jewellery. She shocked me by telling me that she was Matt’s lover and that the jewellery was gifts from him to her. I was crushed, but Tara’s honesty and regret led to a surprising friendship.
As I learnt more, I saw that Matt had been living two lives and lying to both Tara and me. The jewellery, which used to stand for secret, now stood for the broken pieces of my marriage. I was angry, sad, and betrayed, among other things.
Tara and I came up with a way to show that Matt was cheating on her. I put on the bracelet Tara had given me back, and she helped me send Matt a fake message to get him to come to a restaurant where we would face him. Matt walked right into the trap that had been set.
Matt’s lies and betrayal became clear as the truth came out. I wouldn’t listen when he tried to explain. The harm was done. I got the strength to end the relationship and start over with Tara’s help. It taught me that sometimes the strangest things can free you and give you a chance to start over.
To end the story, I filed for divorce and the marriage was over. Thanks to Tara for becoming my friend out of the blue and for having the guts to tell me the truth. The gold jewellery trail led me to a painful truth, but it also gave me a new drive and sense of purpose.
