I came home early from a business trip, excited to surprise my husband, Ben. But instead of a warm welcome, I found him in the garden, drenched in sweat, burying something bizarre—a glossy, black egg the size of a small boulder. When he refused to explain, I decided to uncover the truth myself. What I found turned my world upside down.

Exhausted from days of non-stop meetings at a Chicago conference, I was desperate to escape the monotony. The final session ended early, and I made a snap decision to surprise Ben. We’d been distant lately, both consumed by work, and I wanted to reignite the connection we once shared.

You’re skipping the keynote?” my colleague Linda asked as I stuffed my laptop into my bag.“For once, my marriage wins out over work,” I replied. “If I leave now, I can catch the six o’clock flight and be home by evening.”Linda smirked. “Surprise homecomings are a gamble. Let me know how it goes.”I smiled back, but her words lingered.

By the time I reached home, the sun was setting, casting the house in a golden glow. Something felt off as I stepped inside. The house was unusually quiet, and clutter—something Ben usually couldn’t stand—had accumulated. His laptop sat abandoned on the kitchen counter, next to a coffee cup with a dried ring of coffee around the rim.