For the last 6 months, my husband, Jerry, was constantly busy with his new project. But yesterday, we finally had the chance to go to Miami for vacation.
When he tried to say something about postponing it, I insisted it was impossible since all the tickets and the hotel were booked, so we were doing this now.
Moving forward to the flight. As soon as we took off, I fell asleep on Jerry’s shoulder. But the when I opened my eyes, it was a stranger’s shoulder I was leaning on, and I was about to yell when he said:
HIM: “Hush. Please, we don’t have much time.
I saw you and your husband at the airport, and I thought you needed to know. When he returns to you in a few minutes, behave as usual.”
ME: “Stop being mysterious. Who are you and what the hell is going on?!”
HIM: “The point is that your husband… isn’t who you think he is.”
My heart skipped a beat, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. The stranger’s face was serious, his eyes shifting to the aisle, watching for Jerry’s return. I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm as he continued.
“I don’t have much time to explain,” he whispered urgently. “But your husband is involved in some very dangerous work. I’ve been tracking him for months. I know it may sound hard to believe, but he’s been keeping secrets from you—serious ones.”
My mind struggled to process his words. Jerry, my husband of five years, who was so focused on his new project he barely had time for anything else—dangerous? Secretive? It didn’t make sense. But something in the man’s eyes made me believe he wasn’t just some random passenger trying to scare me.
“What kind of secrets?” I whispered back, glancing around nervously. “And why should I trust you?”
The man pulled a worn ID badge from his pocket, just enough for me to see the insignia. It was from a government agency I’d only seen in movies. “I can’t tell you everything,” he said, his voice a low murmur. “But I’ve been monitoring Jerry for some time. He’s been linked to an international operation—a network involved in illegal technology and, well, much worse.”
I felt a jolt of fear, disbelief mingling with confusion. Jerry? My Jerry? The man who still read the morning news and reminded me to pay the electricity bill? How could he be mixed up in something like that?
“What do you want me to do?” I asked, barely able to keep my voice steady.
The man’s gaze softened, as if he understood my shock. “For now, nothing. Pretend this conversation never happened. But when you arrive in Miami, keep your eyes open. Look for anything out of the ordinary. And… if he tries to leave you alone, even for a few minutes, call this number.” He slipped a small card into my hand, and I noticed it had only a phone number on it. “No names, no details. Just call.”
At that moment, I saw Jerry making his way back down the aisle. The stranger quickly leaned back, closing his eyes as if he’d been asleep the whole time. I tucked the card into my purse, my heart pounding as I composed myself.
“Hey, you okay?” Jerry asked, smiling as he sat down beside me.
I forced a smile. “Yeah, just… just a little groggy.”
The rest of the flight felt surreal, my mind spinning with questions I couldn’t ask and fears I couldn’t voice. When we finally landed, Jerry seemed his usual self, enthusiastic about our plans and insisting we grab lunch at a place he’d read about. But as we stepped off the plane, I felt myself scrutinizing his every move, every gesture, wondering if any of it could be a façade.
Our first day in Miami was normal enough. We walked along the beach, took photos, and shared a quiet dinner. But by the next morning, Jerry seemed restless, checking his phone repeatedly and glancing around as if he were waiting for something—or someone.
Later that day, he told me he needed to step out to make a quick phone call. I tried to keep my composure, casually reaching into my bag and feeling the card the stranger had given me. I waited until he was out of sight, then quickly dialed the number.
The phone rang twice before the same voice from the plane answered. “Yes?”
“It’s… it’s me,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. “He just left to make a call.”
“Stay calm,” he said. “I’m close by. Where are you?”
I gave him the name of the café, my heart racing. “What’s happening? Is he… is he meeting someone?”
“I’m about to find out. Just stay where you are, and act natural. I’ll be in touch soon.”
I hung up, trying to steady my breathing as I watched the entrance for any sign of Jerry. Moments later, he returned, his expression relaxed, as if nothing had happened. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between us, that I was looking at a stranger.
For the rest of the day, I played the role of the unsuspecting wife, but inside, I was on high alert. That evening, my phone buzzed with a new message from an unknown number:
Tomorrow, 2 PM. Be ready.
And as I lay next to Jerry that night, my mind raced, wondering just how much of my life with him had been a lie—and what I was supposed to do now that the truth was unraveling before me.
