Daphnée stumbled upon her husbands betrayal by accident
As is often the case, wives are the last to find out. Only afterward did Daphnae grasp why her coworkers glances had turned odd and why whispers followed her. Everyone at the hospital knew that her dear friend Claire was carrying on with her husband, Nicolas. Yet nothing in Nicolass demeanor had ever raised Daphnées suspicions.
She learned the truth that evening, unexpectedly returning home. Daphnée had been a physician at a Paris hospital for several years and was scheduled for a night shift. Near the end of the day, her young colleague Pauline asked for a favor:
Daphnée, could you swap shifts with me? Ill work tonight and youll cover for me on Saturday, unless you have other plans. My sisters wedding is Saturday.
Daphnée agreed. Pauline was pleasant and helpful, and a wedding was a good enough reason.
That night, Daphnée came home, eager to surprise her husband. The surprise, however, was for her. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard voices from the bedroomNicolass voice and another she recognized, but never expected to hear there. It was Claires. What Daphnée overheard left no doubt about the nature of their affair.
She slipped out of the apartment as quietly as she had entered and spent the rest of the night at the hospital, unable to sleep. How could she face her colleagues, who already knew everything, while she had been blinded by love for Nicolas and placed total trust in him? He had become the center of her existence, even prompting her to abandon her dream of motherhood whenever he claimed he wasnt ready, urging her to wait and enjoy life. Now Daphnée realized he saw no future for a family with her.
That night she made what seemed the only possible choice. She drafted a leave request followed by a resignation, returned home, packed her belongings while Nicolas was at work, and hurried to the train station. She had inherited a modest country house from her grandmother and thought no one would look for her there.
At the station she bought a new SIM card and discarded the old one, cutting every tie to her former life and embracing the new one.
Twentyfour hours later she stepped off the train at a familiar stopthe last time she had been there was ten years earlier, at her grandmothers funeral. Everything was as quiet and deserted as she remembered. Exactly what I need right now, she thought. After a brief carshare ride and a twentyminute walk, she reached the house. The garden was overgrown with bushes, making the front door hard to find.
It took weeks to tidy the house and clear the garden. She couldnt have done it alone, but neighbors who remembered her grandmother Adelinewho had taught for more than forty yearsoffered generous help. Daphnée was surprised by such a warm welcome and felt grateful.
Soon the rumor spread that a doctor had moved to the village. One day a neighbor, Marie, rushed to Daphnées door, looking panicked:
Daphnée, Im sorry, but I cant help today. My little girl ate something bad and is suffering from indigestion.
Lets take a look, Daphnée replied, grabbing her medical kit.
Little Mathilde was indeed experiencing food poisoning. Daphnée treated her and advised Marie on precautions.
Thank you so much, Daphnée, Marie said emotionally. Youre our doctor now. The nearest hospital is sixty kilometres away. We had a nurse, but he left the village and was never replaced.
From then on the villagers turned to Daphnée for medical care. She couldnt refuse, given how kindly she had been received.
News of her work reached the local authorities, who offered her a position at the district health centre.
No, Ill stay here, Daphnée declared firmly. But if you assign me the dispensary here, Ill gladly accept.
Officials were flattered that a Parisian physician with her experience would settle in a modest dispensary, yet Daphnée held her ground. A few months later the dispensary reopened and she resumed consultations.
One night someone knocked late at her doornothing surprising, as illness knows no schedule. She opened for a stranger.
Madame Daphnée, he announced, Im from Villefranche, fifteen kilometres away. My daughter is very ill. At first I thought it was a simple cold, but her fever hasnt dropped in three days. Please, examine her.
Daphnée hurried to gather her tools while the man described his daughters symptoms. Upon arrival she found a pale, bedridden girl struggling to breathe. After examining her, Daphnée said:
Her condition is serious. She needs hospitalization.
The man shook his head:
I live alone with her. Her mother died shortly after birth. Shes everything I have I cant lose her.
The hospital has the equipment she needs. I dont have the medicines here.
Tell me what to give, Ill get it. Just dont take her to the hospital, please. Theres an oncall pharmacy in the district I can reach. But I have no one to watch her while Im gone.
Daphnée sensed his panic and desperation. She looked at him more closely for the first time; he was tall, slender, with handsome chestnut hair and dark green eyes that shone with determination.
Ill stay with your daughter, Daphnée said. Whats her name?
Juliette, he replied softly. And Im Antoine. Thank you, doctor.
Antoine left to fetch the medication, armed with Daphnées prescription.
Juliettes fever persisted; she cried and called for her father. Daphnée held her, rocking her gently and humming a lullaby until the child calmed slightly.
Hours later Antoine returned with everything needed. Daphnée administered the treatment and, exhausted, announced:
Now we just wait.
They kept watch through the night. At dawn Juliettes temperature finally began to fall, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Thats a good sign, Daphnée observed. Though weary, the relief of turning the tide of illness kept her going.
You saved my daughter, Antoine kept repeating his thanks.
A year passed. Daphnée continued working at the dispensary, caring for villagers and nearby residents. She now lived in Antoines spacious house; they had married six months after that terrifying night when Juliettes life hung by a thread.
It took several more weeks for the little girl to fully recover. She grew attached to Daphnée, who loved her deeply while occasionally reflecting on the children she had postponed for herself.
One evening, tired but fulfilled, Daphnée returned home to the two people she cherished. Antoine greeted her at the door with a bright smile and asked:
So, did you get your leave? Ive planned everything; well go on vacation, the three of us.
Daphnée smiled enigmatically and replied:
My leave is approved, but we wont be three, well be four.
Antoine stood stunned for a moment, then lifted his wife into his arms, joyfully.
