Lauren always believed her husband simply didn’t enjoy traveling. For years, she took family trips without him, assuming it was just his preference. But this year, something in his behavior shifted—he grew more distant, more tense—and it pushed Lauren to start questioning everything.
One evening, while flipping through old vacation photos, Lauren realized her sons weren’t in a single one. “Why don’t we ever go?” one of them asked. “Dad says vacations are for grown-ups.” She smiled to reassure them, but inside, the comment stirred a deep unease.
When her mother invited the whole family to the Virgin Islands, Lauren decided to go—with or without Mike. To her surprise, he agreed she should take the boys. But as soon as she mentioned flights, he froze, visibly anxious. Tired of vague excuses, she booked the tickets anyway.
The trip was wonderful—sunny days and happy memories. But Mike’s phone calls were distant, strained. Worried, Lauren returned home early—and walked in to find him with another woman: his therapist. Finally, Mike admitted he’d been hiding a crippling fear of flying. He was getting help now, not just for himself—but for the family, and the life he still hoped to share with them.