Francesca McKenzie, long guided by her bodily instincts, wakes in a Dublin hotel beside Gene and realizes she has made a grave mistake. Months of mounting unease—chest-tight anxiety, sleeplessness, and a sense of disconnection—had pushed Francesca to seek relief after her doctor minimized her concerns and lifestyle changes failed.

Feeling unseen by Bill, who gently proposed holidays and routine solutions, and reluctant to burden Lila, Francesca spiraled into a week of near-total insomnia. At her lowest, a misdated birthday text from Gene, full of energy and charm, sparked an impulsive plan to escape.

Francesca told Bill she was visiting a friend in Nottingham, then instead flew to Dublin. She met Gene at a bustling pub with his film crew, where shared stories, music, and dancing revived their youthful bond. Buoyed by nostalgia and Gene’s enveloping charisma, she invited him back to her hotel, and they slept together. Gene also handed her an envelope of money he said he owed her, suggesting she save it for Lila.

At dawn, Francesca intended to slip away from the encounter, but Gene woke and confessed he believed they were finding their way back to each other. He declared enduring love and imagined a renewed partnership, asking for another chance.

Francesca, panicking, clarified that she remained with Bill and that the night was an impulsive mistake born of feeling stuck. Gene, shocked and wounded, accepted her decision without drama, dressed quietly, and left after saying it had been lovely to see her, adding that she could call if she changed her mind. Francesca firmly replied that she would not.

Afterward, Francesca deleted Gene’s number and shopped compulsively with his money, buying cashmere jumpers for Bill and a dress for Lila’s baby, stripping tags to hide the trip. She spent the evening alone, rehearsing a narrative that she had been away by herself, and flew home resolved to recommit to Bill.

Francesca reframed the affair as a necessary mistake that clarified her values, vowing never to repeat it. Back home, the tension that had plagued her eased, and she finally slept for eight hours straight.