Diana sat frozen in the sterile hospital corridor, the doctorโs words still echoing in her mind: โStage four canc3rโฆ metastasizedโฆ only a few weeks left.โ Her husband of fifteen years, Eric, was dy:ing. The love of her life, her partner through all of lifeโs twists and turns, was slipping away.
Struggling for air, she stumbled out into the brisk September evening. She collapsed onto a bench outside the hospital, clutching her stomach as though trying to contain the pain threatening to rip her apart. Around her, life went onโfamilies laughed, cried, and moved forward. Diana felt trapped in limbo.
Thatโs when she noticed the nurse.
The woman, unremarkable at first glance, approached silently, her tired eyes betraying a weariness born of years spent in the shadows of othersโ suffering.
โSet up a hidden camera in his ward,โ she said
โHeโs not dying.โ
The words struck like a thunderclap.
โExcuse me? My husband is dy:ing. The doctorsโโ
The nurse didnโt flinch. โSeeing is believing,โ she interrupted. โI work nights. I see things that donโt add up. Trust me, you deserve to know the truth.โ

What did she mean, โHeโs not dy:ingโ? The thought was absurd, cruel even, but the seed of doubt had been planted. By the next morning, that seed had grown into resolve. Against her better judgment, Diana ordered a small, discreet camera.
The next day, while Eric was undergoing a scan, Diana slipped into his hospital room. Her hands trembled as she nestled the tiny camera among the fresh flowers on the windowsill.
When Eric returned, his pale face and feeble movements painted a heartbreaking picture.
He winced as he lay back in bed, gripping Dianaโs hand weakly. โThe painโฆ itโs worse today,โ he murmured.
At first, nothing seemed unusual. Nurses came and went, checking Ericโs vitals. Eric slept fitfully, shifting under the white hospital sheets. But then, at precisely 9 p.m., everything changed. The door opened, and a tall woman in a sleek leather coat walked in.
Ericโs transformation was immediate. He sat up, strong and alert, his pale faรงade replaced by a vitality that didnโt belong to a dy:ing man. The woman leaned in, and they embraced with an intimacy that made Dianaโs stomach turn.

The camera had no audio, but their body language spoke volumes. The woman handed Eric a folder, which he tucked under his mattress. Their expressions were smug, conspiratorial. Dianaโs hands shook as she stopped the feed. Tears streamed down her face, but they were no longer tears of griefโthey were tears of betrayal.
The next day, Eric, back in character, winced dramatically as he sipped water. โRough night,โ he rasped. โThe painโs unbearable.โ
Diana forced a smile. โIโm so sorry, love. Rest. Iโll take care of everything.โ
But that night, she didnโt go home. Instead, she waited in her car, watching the hospital entrance like a hawk. Sure enough, the woman in the leather coat arrived, striding confidently into the building.
Eric and the woman, Victoria, were plotting to fake his d3ath, collect the insurance money, and vanish together.
โDiana wonโt suspect a thing,โ Eric said with a laugh. โSheโs already planning my funeral.โ
The casual cruelty of his words shattered something inside Diana, but it also ignited a fire. She would not be their fool.

The next day, Diana called everyoneโEricโs family, friends, and coworkers. โEricโs condition has worsened,โ she said, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. โThe doctors say itโs time to say goodbye.โ
โBefore we say our final goodbyes,โ she announced.
โthereโs something you all need to see.โ
The room fell silent as the footage played on the large screen.
โHow could you do this to your wife? To us?โ she screamed.
Eric stammered, his face paleโnot from illness, but from fear. When security arrived with the police, Diana stood back and watched as Eric and Victoria were led away in handcuffs.
The next morning, Diana filed for divorce. She returned to the hospital bench, hoping to see the nurse who had saved her from a lifetime of lies. When the woman appeared, her tired eyes now held a hint of warmth.
โThank you,โ Diana said simply.
The nurse nodded. โSometimes, the worst diseases arenโt in the bodyโtheyโre in the soul. Iโm glad you found the cure.โ