Our quiet little neighborhood was always a place of comfort for my husband and me—until a familiar face moved in next door. It was Ethan, an ex I dated years before I met my husband. Ethan and I had ended things amicably, and I hadn’t thought about him in a long time. But now, seeing him across the driveway has stirred feelings—not in me, but in my husband.

From the moment he realized who our new neighbor was, I could sense a shift. My husband, normally confident and easygoing, began acting differently. At first, it was subtle—questions like, “Did you ever think he’d end up living so close to us?” or “What kind of relationship did you two have?” But soon, his unease became more obvious. He’d watch out the window when Ethan was outside and seemed overly interested in our interactions, no matter how brief or casual.

Finally, one evening, he admitted how he felt. He told me it was hard not to feel uneasy with Ethan living so close, especially knowing our history. He confessed he worried I might still have feelings for him, despite my repeated assurances that Ethan is firmly in my past.

It’s been a challenge to navigate. While I understand where his feelings come from—after all, proximity can stir up insecurities—I wish he could see that my commitment to him is unwavering. Trust takes time to rebuild, and I’m determined to remind him every day that our love is stronger than any shadow from the past.