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A woman on crutches | Source: Shutterstock
A woman on crutches | Source: Shutterstock

My Husband Left Me Home on Crutches to Go Skiing with Friends — I Wanted to Make Him Pay, but Karma Did It Better

Ayesha Muhammad
Jun 26, 2024
03:05 P.M.

Lauren's anticipation of a perfect ski trip is shattered when an injury forces her to stay home. Her shock deepens as her husband, Steve, chooses the slopes over her, leaving her alone and hurt. As she plots her revenge, a phone call reveals a twist she never saw coming, shaking the foundations of their marriage.

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Hi, I'm Lauren, and I want to share an experience that changed everything for me. Steve and I met in college, and from the moment we locked eyes, it was like the universe had conspired to bring us together.

A young couple looking at each other | Source: Midjourney

A young couple looking at each other | Source: Midjourney

He was charming, athletic, and had a smile that could light up a room. I was the more studious type, always with my nose in a book, but Steve's infectious energy drew me in. We quickly became inseparable, and after graduation, we got married in a small ceremony with just our close friends and family.

Our life together was mostly wonderful. We bought a cozy little house in the suburbs and filled it with laughter, shared dreams, and spontaneous adventures.

A bride and groom passing through a field during the golden hour | Source: Unsplash

A bride and groom passing through a field during the golden hour | Source: Unsplash

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Steve loved sports, especially skiing, and every winter, we'd take a trip to our favorite ski resort in Vermont. It was our thing, a tradition we both cherished.

I remember one night, sitting by the fireplace, Steve looked at me with his warm brown eyes. "You know, I think I fall in love with you more every day," he said, squeezing my hand.

I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth. "I feel the same way, Steve. I can't imagine my life without you."

A couple sitting by the fireplace at night | Source: Midjourney

A couple sitting by the fireplace at night | Source: Midjourney

He pulled me into his arms, and we sat there, wrapped in each other's embrace, dreaming about our future together.

This year was supposed to be extra special. We had been planning the trip for months, excited to hit the slopes and enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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"Lauren, I can't wait to show you the new trails I found online," Steve said one evening as we pored over the resort's map.

"Really? New trails? You know how much I love exploring," I replied, my eyes lighting up.

A ski resort | Source: Pexels

A ski resort | Source: Pexels

"Yeah, and I booked us a cabin with a fireplace. It's going to be so cozy," he added, pulling me into a hug.

But just a few days before we were set to leave, disaster struck. I was helping Steve carry an auto part to the garage when I missed a step and fell down the stairs.

"Lauren! Are you okay?" Steve shouted, rushing to my side.

The pain was immediate and intense. "I... I don't know. My leg hurts so much," I winced.

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"We need to get you to the hospital," he said, his face pale with worry.

A woman on the stairs | Source: Midjourney

A woman on the stairs | Source: Midjourney

At the hospital, the doctors diagnosed me with a severe muscle strain in my leg and recommended I use crutches for a few weeks. The ski trip, which we had both been looking forward to, was suddenly off the table for me.

When we got home, I was sure Steve would stay back with me. After all, we always did things together. But the day before we were supposed to leave, I found him in the garage, packing his skis and gear into the car.

A man holding his skis and gear | Source: Midjourney

A man holding his skis and gear | Source: Midjourney

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"Steve, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief.

He didn't even look up. "Packing for the trip."

I hobbled over, leaning heavily on my crutches. "You can't be serious. How am I supposed to manage here alone? I can barely walk!"

Steve finally looked at me, his expression annoyingly casual. "If you need anything, you can ask the neighbors to help you."

I was stunned. "Seriously? You're just going to leave me here?"

He shrugged. "I've been looking forward to this trip for months, Lauren. I'm not going to miss it because you had an accident."

A sad and lonely woman sitting on a sofa with her arm resting on a crutch | Source: Midjourney

A sad and lonely woman sitting on a sofa with her arm resting on a crutch | Source: Midjourney

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I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Wow, Steve. Just...wow."

He didn't even flinch. "Look, you'll be fine. It's just a few days. Plus, you can catch up on your reading or watch some movies. It’ll be like a mini-vacation for you too."

His words stung. I had always known Steve could be selfish at times, but this was a new low. As he drove off the next morning, I stood by the window, watching him go. The pain in my leg was nothing compared to the hurt I felt inside.

A woman leaning on a window sill and looking outside | Source: Pexels

A woman leaning on a window sill and looking outside | Source: Pexels

Once he was gone, I started thinking. How could he just leave me like this? I wanted to make him pay. Maybe I'd sell his precious skis, or change the locks on the house. But as I sat there, plotting my revenge, karma decided to intervene.

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An hour after Steve left, my phone rang. It was Mark, one of Steve’s friends who was supposed to join the trip.

"Lauren, you need to sit down," he said, his voice shaking.

"I'm already sitting, Mark. What's wrong?"

"It's Steve. There's been an accident. He broke his leg."

A man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

I couldn't believe it. "What? How?"

"I'll tell you all the details later. All you need to know is that he fell pretty badly. He's in the hospital now. I'll text you the location.”

For a moment, I didn't know what to feel. Part of me was worried, but another part — a darker part — felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Steve was going to experience a bit of what I was going through, and it wasn't even my doing. Karma had stepped in, and it had done a better job than I ever could.

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A shocked woman with crutches talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman with crutches talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

I decided to head to the hospital to check on him, despite my mixed feelings. The drive was uneventful, giving me plenty of time to think about what I would say to him. How could he be so careless? How could he leave me alone when I needed him the most?

When I arrived at the hospital, I found Steve's friends, Mark and Dave, in the waiting area.

"Lauren, thank God you're here," Mark said, standing up quickly. "He's in Room 204."

A woman with crutches standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney

A woman with crutches standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney

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"Thanks for letting me know. Now will someone please tell me what exactly happened?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Dave sighed. "Well, it wasn't on the slopes. Steve got out of the car at a gas station a few hours ago. Some hooligans stole his skis from the car, and he tried to run after them. He fell and broke his leg."

I couldn't help it and burst out laughing. The absurdity of it all was too much. Mark and Dave shot quick glances in my direction, probably thinking I had gone into hysteria.

A man is sitting on the road and crying because he hurt his leg | Source: Midjourney

A man is sitting on the road and crying because he hurt his leg | Source: Midjourney

"Seriously? He broke his leg chasing after his skis?" I said, trying hard not to giggle.

Mark looked a bit sheepish. "Yeah, it's not exactly the heroic story he might have wanted."

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I took a deep breath and walked down the hallway to Room 204. As I pushed the door open, I saw Steve lying on the bed, his leg in a cast, looking utterly miserable.

"Lauren," he said, his voice a mix of relief and embarrassment.

I couldn't resist. "So, you thought you could just leave me at home, and this is what happens?"

A man lying in a hospital bed with a cast on his leg | Source: Midjourney

A man lying in a hospital bed with a cast on his leg | Source: Midjourney

Steve sighed. "I know, I know. It was stupid. But can you bring me something? I could really use my phone charger."

I raised an eyebrow. "No. I think if you need anything, there are nurses here to help you!" I said ironically, echoing his words from before.

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He winced. "I deserve that. I'm sorry, Lauren. I was selfish and I didn't think about how you felt."

A woman with a slightly amused expression | Source: Midjourney

A woman with a slightly amused expression | Source: Midjourney

I softened a bit at his apology but wasn't ready to let him off the hook completely. "Steve, you left me alone when I could barely walk. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

He nodded, looking genuinely remorseful. "I know, and I regret it. I shouldn't have left you. Can we talk about this more when we get home?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "Fine. But things need to change, Steve. We need to start thinking about each other more."

A remorse-stricken man in a hospital room covering his face with his hands | Source: Midjourney

A remorse-stricken man in a hospital room covering his face with his hands | Source: Midjourney

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As I turned to leave, a nurse walked in, giving me a small smile. "Don't worry, ma'am. We'll take good care of him."

I nodded, feeling a bit of relief. "Thank you."

Back at home, I had time to reflect on everything. Steve's accident was a harsh lesson for both of us. For him, it was a wake-up call to be more considerate and present. For me, it was a reminder of the importance of standing up for myself and not tolerating selfish behavior.

A woman lost in her thoughts | Source: Midjourney

A woman lost in her thoughts | Source: Midjourney

When Steve finally came home a few days later, we had a long talk. We discussed our relationship, our expectations, and how we could be better partners to each other. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary.

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"Lauren, I really am sorry. I was an idiot," Steve admitted, looking genuinely remorseful.

I nodded. "I know you are, but things need to change. We need to start thinking about each other more."

He reached for my hand. "I promise, I will. Let's work on this together."

A couple talking while sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

A couple talking while sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation lift slightly. "Okay. But we need to communicate better. No more selfish decisions."

He agreed. "Absolutely. We'll get through this, I know we will."

In the end, the whole ordeal brought us closer. Steve's broken leg healed, and so did the rift in our relationship. We learned to laugh about the absurdity of it all and moved forward with a renewed sense of commitment and understanding.

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Sometimes, life has a funny way of teaching us lessons. And in our case, karma did it better than I ever could.

A couple laughing | Source: Midjourney

A couple laughing | Source: Midjourney

What would you have done if you were in my shoes?

Here's another story that you might like: When the Smith family embarked on their summer vacation, they expected relaxation and family bonding. But an unexpected decision by Steve, prioritizing his mother's comfort over his family's happiness, led to a shocking turn of events, leaving him to confront the true meaning of luxury.

Click here to read the whole story.

Successful man in a suit | Source: Pexels

Successful man in a suit | Source: Pexels

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This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided "as is," and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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