I lost my boyfriend and one of my best nail techs at the same time

Owning a nail salon taught me to expect almost anything.

I just never expected the people who hurt me the most would be the two people I trusted most.

I'm 41 years old.

About three years ago, one of my regular customers started asking me out.

He was five years younger than me.

At first I kept saying no because I didn't think dating a customer was a good idea.

But he was patient.

He'd bring me coffee.

He'd wait until I finished work just to walk me to my car.

Eventually, I gave him a chance.

A year later, we were living together.

I honestly thought I had finally found the person I would grow old with.

Around that same time, I hired a young nail technician.

She was talented, energetic, and customers loved her.

She called me her work mom.

She thanked me for giving her an opportunity when no one else would.

I trusted her completely.

Sometimes, if I had to leave early, she'd help close the salon.

My boyfriend would stop by after work and wait for me.

They became friends.

At least that's what I believed.

Then little things started feeling... off.

If my boyfriend came to the salon, he'd joke with her more than anyone else.

If she needed help carrying supplies, he was always the first one to volunteer.

Whenever the three of us talked together, I sometimes felt like I was interrupting their conversation.

I kept telling myself I was imagining things.

One evening I forgot my laptop at the salon.

I drove back about twenty minutes after closing.

The front lights were off.

As I walked toward the back door, I saw them standing in the parking lot.

They weren't doing anything dramatic.

They were simply standing much closer than friends usually do.

When they noticed my car, they immediately stepped apart.

Both of them looked surprised to see me.

Nobody said a word.

The next morning, I asked my boyfriend if anything was going on.

He denied it.

She denied it too.

I wanted so badly to believe them that I ignored every warning sign.

Three weeks later, my boyfriend packed his clothes while I was at work.

When I got home, he was gone.

The only thing he left behind was a note saying he had fallen in love with someone else.

I already knew who it was before I even finished reading.

The following morning, my nail technician texted me to say she wouldn't be coming back.

She didn't even have the courage to tell me face to face.

I never replied.

Losing a relationship hurts.

Losing an employee hurts.

But losing both to each other...

That's a different kind of heartbreak.

It's been over a year now.

The salon is doing well again.

I've hired wonderful people.

Life has moved forward.

But every time a customer tells me how lucky I am to own my own business, I quietly smile.

Because they have no idea that the place I worked hardest to build...

Was also the place where I lost the two people I trusted the most.