It’s incredible how a single phone call can shake your entire world.I’d always trusted my husband Nick—my best friend, my partner, the guy who made bad dad jokes and loved 90s pop culture. We’d built a cozy life together, supporting each other’s dreams. So when he turned 34 and said he wanted to run a marathon before 35, I cheered him on.

Every Saturday morning, he left early to train with two friends, Jake and Chris. It became part of our routine.Then one Thursday, Nick forgot his phone at home. It rang while I was folding laundry. I answered.“Hi! Your daughter isn’t feeling well and needs to be picked up,” said a cheerful voice.Daughter? I was stunned. We didn’t have kids.