For Three Years, My Husband Missed Every One of My Birthdays, I Only Learned the Truth After We Divorced — Story of the Day

On her birthday, Sarah sits alone at a candlelit restaurant table, the empty seat across from her a stark reminder of her husband Mark’s absence for the third year. Hurt and fed up, she declares their marriage over. Two weeks after signing divorce papers, Mark’s mother, Evelyn, hands Sarah an address. At a cemetery, Sarah finds a grave for Lily Harper, who died on her birthday a decade ago. Confronting Mark, she learns Lily was his daughter from a

prior marriage, lost in a car accident. His annual visits to her grave explain his absence, torn between grief and love. Understanding his pain, Sarah suggests a fresh start with no secrets. A year later, they honor Lily together, then share a diner meal. Mark gifts Sarah a lily-shaped necklace, vowing to never miss another birthday. They rebuild their love, celebrating Sarah’s life while cherishing Lily’s memory.