I returned early from a business trip, eager to surprise my husband, Ben. Instead of a warm welcome, I found him in the garden, drenched in sweat, burying something strange—a glossy, black egg the size of a small boulder. When he refused to explain, I decided to uncover the truth myself. What I discovered turned everything upside down.
After days of non-stop meetings at a Chicago conference, I was eager to escape the routine. When the final session ended early, I made a snap decision to surprise Ben. We’d been distant lately, both consumed by work, and I wanted to rekindle our connection.
“You’re skipping the keynote?” my colleague Linda asked as I packed my bag.
“For once, my marriage wins out over work,” I replied. “If I leave now, I can catch the six o’clock flight home.”
Linda smirked. “Surprise homecomings are a gamble. Let me know how it goes.”
I smiled, but her words stuck with me.
By the time I arrived home, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the house. Something felt off. The house was unusually quiet, and clutter had accumulated—Ben hated clutter. His laptop was abandoned on the kitchen counter beside a coffee cup with a dried ring around it.
“Ben?” I called, but there was no answer.
I glanced out the back window and froze. Ben was in the garden, digging frantically. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and beside him was the egg—a massive, obsidian object gleaming in the fading light. He glanced nervously at it, muttering to himself.
“Ben?” I called again, stepping outside.
He spun around, startled. “Regina? What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” I said, trying to stay calm despite the rush of adrenaline. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” he stammered, trying to block my view of the egg. “Go inside. I’ll explain later.”
“Later? You’re burying this in our backyard, and you expect me to wait for an explanation?”
“Regina, please,” he pleaded. “Trust me. I’m handling it.”
His evasiveness only fueled my determination. The next morning, after he left for work, I grabbed a shovel and began digging. It didn’t take long to unearth the strange object. Up close, it didn’t feel like an egg—it felt synthetic. When I twisted it, the object opened in two. Inside, it was hollow, lined with black plastic.
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