After exchanging vows, I began noticing napkins stained with bold lipstick colors tucked within my pockets. One night, my wife discovered one and unleashed a flurry of questions. I swore I had no idea where they came from. Then, one afternoon, I pulled open my wife’s vanity drawer and stood stunned, gazing at over 40 identical lipsticks arranged in perfect rows.
For weeks, those mysterious lipstick smudges created tension in our household. Each time I uncovered a crumpled napkin in my work jacket or trousers, a surge of unease and confusion swept over me. I didn’t use lipstick, nor was I involved in anything questionable. Yet, convincing my wife felt futile when the evidence seemed to point directly at me.
One Saturday, while searching for a bandage in her vanity, I accidentally slid open the bottom drawer. There, lined up with care like a boutique display, were dozens of lipsticks — all identical in brand and shade to the marks I kept finding. My wife walked in as I held one up, my face a blend of puzzlement and astonishment. She burst into laughter at the sight. She confessed that she often slipped napkins into my pockets to test shades or wipe off excess lipstick when rushing out. Over time, she’d completely forgotten about her quirky habit.
A wave of relief washed over me, mixed with a touch of amusement. We sat together, discussed it, and she apologized for leaping to assumptions that first time. I promised to check my pockets before letting worry take hold, and she agreed to stop using my coats as her makeup stash. What could have escalated into a serious misunderstanding became a treasured story we now laugh about — a reminder that even the strangest mysteries often have the simplest answers.
