The husband did not let his wife into the barn for 35 years. After the funeral, she decided to come in and fainted when she saw it…

Sarah stood by the fresh grave of her husband. Everything felt unreal, as it always does in moments like these.

You live your life quietly, believing grief will never knock on your door. Misfortune happens to others, not to you. The day before, a funeral procession had passed through the cemetery where Sarah now stood.

The grave was new, adorned with flowers and wreaths from the few friends and family David had. He hadn’t been the warmest man, and to be honest, he was often downright unfriendly.

After the funeral, Sarah returned home, exhausted both physically and emotionally. David had been her husband, and they’d shared 35 years together. Could she call those years happy? Perhaps with some effort, but there was no denying the deep bond and mutual respect that held them together.

Now, she had come to the cemetery to say goodbye to her husband one last time. Alone, without prying eyes. Sarah was used to hiding her true emotions.

Even at her husband’s funeral, she tried to stay composed. Like anyone, she was never prepared for the loss of a loved one. She had no idea how it would feel or what to expect.

Though David had been gravely ill in recent months, his passing wasn’t unexpected. Still, Sarah struggled to accept that she was now alone. Alongside her grief, she felt an odd sense of relief. Perhaps it stemmed from knowing David had suffered greatly from pain and weakness, longing for an end to his torment.

Caring for her dying husband had been no easy task for Sarah. People often say, “He’s at peace now.” But that doesn’t lessen the pain of loss.

Yet, the lightness in her heart might also have come from the fact that their marriage hadn’t been easy or blissful. David had a difficult, even domineering personality. Naturally, Sarah felt no joy in his passing.

She loved him deeply, overlooking his flaws. But the guilt of feeling a weight lifted from her soul was undeniable. Partly, she had come to the cemetery to untangle these conflicting emotions.

No, Sarah loved David. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have endured 35 years of marriage with him—a life often filled with arguments and misunderstandings, yet grounded in certainty about the future.

David never gave Sarah reason to doubt his loyalty, strength, or dependability. For that, she loved and respected him. When she returned home, she noticed for the first time how large the house was….