When I found a barcode on my husband’s back, I thought it was a strange prank or something trivial. I never expected it to reveal such a heartbreaking truth.
Daniel had been growing distant, becoming more absorbed in his work just as we were expecting our first child. I thought this would bring us closer, but he was always busy with late nights and frequent business trips. It felt like an invisible wall between us.
I would ask, “Daniel, can we talk tonight? Just catch up?” but his response was always the same. “I’d love to, but work’s overwhelming right now.”
I spent many nights awake, lying next to him, wondering if I had done something wrong or if he still wanted me.
One evening, Daniel returned home after a week away, looking exhausted. He barely said a word before disappearing into the shower, and I had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.
Later, when he crawled into bed, I noticed something on his back—a barcode. My heart sank as I remembered a story where a barcode had revealed a hidden truth. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was about to uncover something painful.
Despite my shaking hands, I used my phone to scan the barcode, which led me to a website with a cryptic message: “Call me ASAP. He has just months.”
I felt frozen. What did it mean? Without thinking, I dialed the number. A woman answered. “Dr. Evans here. How can I help?”
I hesitated. “I… scanned a barcode on my husband’s back, and it led me to this number. It said he has just months…”
She sighed softly, “You must be Daniel’s wife. I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.”
My legs buckled, and I leaned against the wall. “What do you mean? Is he… sick?”
Dr. Evans took a breath. “Yes. Daniel has stage four pancreatic cancer.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Cancer? But why didn’t he tell me?”
“He didn’t want to burden you, especially with the pregnancy. He wanted you to be happy,” she explained.
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