On our 10-year anniversary, my husband Dave dropped a bombshell: he wanted an open relationship. Shocked and hurt, I agreed, but only to teach him a lesson.

Dave struggled in the dating scene, while I thrived. One night, he complained about another failed date. I, however, had a date with Shawn, a coworker with a killer smile. I texted Dave not to come home that night, hinting at my plans with Shawn.

Shawn and I had a wonderful evening, but Dave came home early, furious. “You wanted this,” I reminded him. He admitted his mistake, realizing how much it hurt to see me with someone else.

We sat down and talked, truly talked, for the first time in years. Dave apologized, and we agreed to work on our marriage, starting with counseling and spending more time together.

Remembering our first date, when he spilled coffee on me, we laughed and shared a moment of nostalgia. “I miss those days,” he said, and I nodded, feeling hopeful for the first time in a long while.

We decided to take it one day at a time, determined to rebuild our relationship. It wouldn’t be easy, but for the first time, it felt possible. Here’s to second chances and the messy, real journey of marriage. Cheers to us.