A woman’s heartache after her husband commits suicide.
Isabel Coles, a housewife from North Carolina, was stunned when she received Valentine’s Day flowers from her late husband, Christopher—months after his tragic death.
The couple had met on a dating app and tied the knot in a courthouse in September 2024, just ahead of Christopher’s military deployment. They planned a larger wedding celebration for May 2025. Sadly, that dream never came true.
Isabel described their relationship as full of love and joy. They shared a passion for music and even spent their honeymoon at a music festival. But when Christopher returned home, he started acting strangely.
“He went downstairs and tried to get out… he started heading toward the woods,” Isabel recalled.
Panicked, she ran upstairs to grab her shoes—only to spot that Christopher had a weapon. Tragically, his father found him dead the next day.
Isabel said she was left in deep shock and grief. “He was very driven and motivated,” she reflected. She now questions whether she missed warning signs of his internal struggle, as he had shown no clear symptoms.
That Valentine’s Day, Isabel received a surprise bouquet from Christopher. Overwhelmed, she called the florist—only to learn he had ordered the flowers back in September, before his deployment. He had planned the gesture, knowing he might not be there to give them in person.
Isabel later shared her emotional story in a video that quickly went viral. While many praised her courage, some criticized her for speaking out. Still, she stood firm. Her goal? To raise awareness about mental health struggles.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans aged 10 to 34. Isabel hopes her story can help others spot the hidden signs of distress and encourage honest conversations about emotional well-being.
To honor her late husband and support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Isabel is preparing to run the Chicago Marathon in October 2025. She wants to raise both awareness and funds, reminding others that even those who seem to “have it all” can be silently struggling.
“Everyone wants a reason why,” she said. “Nobody thinks that a brilliant, attractive, successful man with a great life wakes up one day and chooses to take his own life.”
Isabel insists her marriage was filled with genuine love. “He was definitely fighting demons no one could see,” she shared. “I’m not okay. A part of me is gone forever.”
Isabel shared that her husband believed others would be better off without him. Still, she firmly said, “He would never have hurt me on purpose.”
Now, she’s using her pain to fuel purpose. Through her mental health advocacy, Isabel hopes to spark honest conversations. She wants to empower those facing similar struggles to speak up and seek help.
By sharing her journey, Isabel hopes others battling silent depression won’t feel alone—and will choose life instead.
