A man decided to leave a note for his wife before heading out for the evening, thinking he could explain his actions in a calm and rational way.

In his letter, he addressed his wife affectionately, calling her “my beloved,” and proceeded to inform her that while he still appreciated her and considered her a decent partner, he had certain personal standards that, in his opinion, she could no longer meet at the age of 57.

He attempted to soften the blow by expressing that he was satisfied with their relationship overall, but then casually dropped the news that he would be spending the night with his 19-year-old secretary at the Comfort Inn. He asked her not to be worried or anxious and promised that he would return home before midnight. The man likely believed that this straightforward and composed explanation would make his actions seem justifiable, or at least not entirely offensive. However, when he arrived home later that night, he found a response waiting for him on the dining room table. It was a note from his wife, and it matched his tone in both structure and courtesy, but what it delivered was far more impactful than he could have imagined. She began by acknowledging his letter and thanking him for his honesty.

Then, in a composed and calculated manner, she reminded him that he, too, was 57 years old—an important point she wanted to make sure he hadn’t overlooked. She proceeded to share that, as he knew, she was a mathematics instructor at the local college, and she used that background to construct a brilliant and biting response. She informed him that while he was out reading his letter, she had also made plans for the evening. She would be at the Hotel Fiesta, not alone, but accompanied by Michael—a 19-year-old student of hers who also happened to be the assistant tennis coach.

She described Michael as young and energetic, just like the secretary her husband was with, drawing a direct comparison between their two situations. Then came the twist that made her reply unforgettable. With perfect comedic timing and mathematical wit, she wrote that, as someone well-versed in numbers and logic, he should appreciate this little fact: “19 goes into 57 more often than 57 goes into 19.” It was a clever play on words and a sharp jab that left no room for misinterpretation. The innuendo was clear, and it turned her husband’s justification into a joke. She concluded her letter by stating that, unlike his promise to return home before midnight, she wouldn’t be back until the next day.