For most of their marriage, Maya and Jason shared a comforting routine, drifting off together each night. Their imperfections were familiar and even endearing. So when Jason announced he’d be sleeping in the guest room because of Maya’s snoring, she was surprised but tried to be understanding, believing it was temporary and rooted in exhaustion from work.

Maya made every effort to fix the problem—using sleep aids, teas, and nasal strips—but Jason stayed in the guest room, gradually moving in his belongings and eventually locking the door. Though he insisted it wasn’t personal, something felt off. Maya tried to accept the shift, believing marriage naturally evolves, but her unease grew.

One night, Maya noticed Jason’s phone left behind—a rare occurrence. A message popped up from someone named Lana: “Can you call me when she’s asleep?” Maya followed her instincts to the guest room and overheard Jason talking to Lana, laughing that Maya “had no clue.” She didn’t cry—she listened, left quietly, and began gathering the truth.

What she found shocked her. Jason wasn’t having an affair, but he had secretly wired $19,000 to Lana, a self-proclaimed business mentor who fed him vague spiritual promises in exchange for money. He was seeking validation and “abundance,” not romance. Maya confronted him calmly, and his dismissive response cut the deepest—he hadn’t trusted her enough to dream or fail together.

Two weeks later, Maya filed for divorce. Jason didn’t fight it, still clinging to fantasies of success. Lana disappeared, her business vanishing without a trace. Jason moved on to a new mentor. Maya blocked him and moved forward on her own terms.

She reclaimed the guest room, filled it with warmth and peace. She sleeps alone now—door open, phone unplugged, and for the first time in a long while, dreams unburdened.