Four years after my husband Jason vanished on a solo hike, I’d accepted he was gone. But when our old family dog, Scout, reappeared one afternoon carrying Jason’s jacket, everything changed.
Scout led me deep into the forest to a hidden cabin. Inside, I saw Jason—wild, bearded, and with a woman I didn’t know. He told me he’d escaped a life he felt trapped in, choosing freedom with this woman and the wilderness over his family.
I was shattered. He left his kids believing he was dead, with no word or goodbye. His excuses felt empty, and the man I loved was gone.
I turned away, knowing this was the end. The next day, I filed for divorce, determined to build a life for my children filled with honesty and stability.
Jason chose his path. Now, it was my turn to move forward—without him.
