I’m Jess, a woman in her late 30s, married to Chris for almost 15 years. Our relationship started off like a fairytale—filled with passion, excitement, and that undeniable spark that everyone talks about. We had adventures, laughed together, and shared dreams. But somewhere along the way, as life took over with its routines and responsibilities, the spark started to dim.

Over the past few months, our marriage has felt like a shadow of what it once was. Chris has become distant, often lost in his work or distracted by the stresses of life. The once-thrilling conversations we had have been replaced by mundane discussions about bills, chores, and the daily grind. He rarely looks at me the way he used to, and the compliments that once made me blush have all but disappeared.

I’ve tried to bring up my feelings to him, to tell him that I miss the way things used to be. But every time, it seems to fall on deaf ears. Chris would just nod, distracted, and tell me that things were fine, that I was overthinking it. He didn’t understand that I needed more than that—that I needed to feel seen, appreciated, and wanted.

One day, as I stood in front of the mirror, I found myself scrutinizing every inch of my reflection. Was I still attractive? Did I still have that glow that Chris once couldn’t get enough of? I turned to the side, sucked in my stomach, and tried to see myself as I once did. But all I saw were the tiny lines starting to form around my eyes, the subtle changes that come with age.

I wanted to feel desired again, to know that I was still attractive and worth something. The longing for validation started to grow inside me, gnawing at my self-esteem. I wanted to know if I still had that spark, if I could still turn heads and make someone’s heart race.

It was then that an idea formed in my mind. I knew it wasn’t right, that it was reckless and could lead to more trouble than it was worth. But the craving for validation, for some sign that I was still desirable, overpowered my better judgment. I decided to test the waters and see if someone else could give me the appreciation I craved.

There was a man at my office, Michael, who had always been friendly and flirtatious. He was charming, with a smile that could light up a room, and I had noticed the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. I decided to see if he would respond to a little extra attention from me.

The next day at work, I made sure to dress up a bit more than usual. I chose a fitted dress that accentuated my figure and took extra care with my makeup. As I walked into the office, I could feel a few heads turn, and it gave me a small boost of confidence.

When I saw Michael in the break room, I made sure to catch his eye and flash him a smile. “Hey, Michael,” I said, my voice a little softer than usual. “How’s your day going?”

He looked up from his coffee, his eyes lighting up as he saw me. “Hey, Jess. Wow, you look great today. New dress?”

I felt a small thrill at his compliment, a warmth spreading through me that I hadn’t felt in a long time. “Yeah, thought I’d try something different,” I replied, giving a playful twirl. “You like it?”

He chuckled, his gaze lingering on me. “Absolutely. You always look good, but today… you’re glowing.”

His words were exactly what I needed to hear, and I found myself leaning into the conversation, flirting back just a little. We talked for a while, and the way he looked at me made me feel alive again, like I still had that spark that I had been missing.

Over the next few days, our interactions became more frequent, more charged. I found myself looking forward to seeing Michael, to the way his eyes would light up when he saw me. I knew it was dangerous, that I was treading on thin ice, but I couldn’t help myself.

One afternoon, after a particularly flirty exchange, Michael asked if I wanted to grab a drink after work. My heart raced at the thought, a mix of excitement and guilt swirling inside me. I knew that this was crossing a line, that I was playing with fire. But I also knew that I wanted to feel wanted, to feel appreciated in a way that I hadn’t in a long time.

“Sure,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’d like that.”

As we sat in a dimly lit bar later that evening, sipping on cocktails, the atmosphere between us was electric. Michael was attentive, hanging on my every word, and his compliments flowed freely. I felt beautiful, captivating, and most importantly, seen.

When he reached across the table and took my hand, I didn’t pull away. I knew what I was doing was wrong, that I was risking my marriage for a fleeting moment of validation. But at that moment, I didn’t care. I needed this.

“Jess,” Michael said softly, his thumb gently stroking the back of my hand. “I’ve always thought you were amazing. And today… you just seem different. More confident, more… alive.”

I felt a tear escape my eye, quickly wiping it away. “Thank you, Michael. I… I needed to hear that.”

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You deserve to feel appreciated, Jess. To know that you’re still incredible.”

As he spoke, I realized that what I was truly searching for wasn’t just validation from another man—it was a reminder to myself that I was still worthy, still beautiful, and still capable of being loved.

I knew I couldn’t continue down this path, that it wasn’t fair to Chris or to myself. But in that moment, sitting across from Michael, I found a piece of myself that I had lost.

After finishing our drinks, I thanked Michael for a lovely evening and headed home. I knew I had a lot to think about and that I needed to confront the issues in my marriage head-on, not by seeking validation from others but by finding that strength within myself.

As I walked through the door, I took a deep breath, ready to have the conversation with Chris that I had been avoiding for too long. It was time to face the truth and decide if we could find our way back to each other or if it was time to let go.

In that moment, I realized that I was still worth it—worth fighting for, worth being loved, and most importantly, worth loving myself.