Now it isnt comfortable any more, Tom said, shaking his head.
You think love isnt something you can earn after twentyfour years of marriage? Emily asked, her tone oddly amused. How fascinating.
Youre a clever woman! Tom frowned, the lines around his eyes deepening. Is it really that hard to see what I meant?
Whenever a woman is told shes clever, Emily replied, people usually value the opposite trait.
And youve misunderstood everything again! Your attempt at manipulation doesnt count. In this case youre wrong, not me! Tom snapped.
Ah, in the particular situation! Emily stretched her arms, as if unveiling a new tableau. What an interesting situation we have!
So after work youre exhausted and need rest, and I, as the understanding wife, should not only stay out of your way but also bring dinner to the sofa?
Emily, you phrase it as if I were a tyrant! Tom pursed his lips. But as a reasonable person, can you see Im tired?
I get that youre tired, Emily nodded. But you can still get to the kitchen. Youre not crippled nor on your deathbed!
So youll only serve me food when Im that weak? Tom retorted, his voice rising. Perhaps youd even wish me to become a cripple, orGod forbidsomething worse?
Less talk, more action, Emily said, pointing toward the kitchen. Its right there.
Come on, Emily! Tom whined. Dont you understand? Im a normal man, and Im so worn out!
Enough coaxing, Tom! Emily raised her voice. Im exhausted from work too. I have no desire to scurry back and forth with trays.
And youll still ask me for salt, ketchup, sour cream, mayo, extra bread, or any topping you can think of! Yet everythings within arms reach in the kitchenjust grab it, and youll be content!
Tom shook his head. With that attitude youll never earn my love, he muttered, staggering toward the kitchen with the gait of a dying swan.
Actor! Emily sneered, settling more comfortably into the armchair.
She waitedlong, expectantuntil the silence broke.
Emily! What does this mean? Toms voice echoed from the kitchen.
Emily didnt rise. Not a muscle twitched.
Emily! Tom burst into the room. Whats that?
The pot is in the fridge, the plate is drying, the microwave is where it belongs, Emily said calmly.
Honestly, Tom, he rasped through clenched teeth, thats absurd.
For the record, Emily smiled sweetly, Im also beat from work. Conclusion?
Tom stared at his wife for a minute, cursed under his breath, and retreated to the kitchen.
It could have sparked a fullblown family disaster, but the next day a visit was scheduled.
Emilys mother, Margaret, had decided to gather relatives, citing, Its been ages since weve all been together. The excuse was thin, and such gatherings were rare, often postponed countless times.
Meanwhile, Aunt Laura wanted a simple family reunion, not for any agenda, merely to chat.
Tom, feeling the weight of his motherinlaws expectations, thought, Let her scold my wife a bit.
Let the motherinlaw try to straighten her own daughter up! he muttered.
When the formal part of the gathering ended and dessert was served, Tom blurted out, I understand, Laura, but somethings wrong with your daughter!
Ill say this plainly: the changes are heading toward divorce paperwork! Youd see that, if only life behaved like that! he continued.
Lord, whats happening? Laura gasped, clutching her chest.
Yesterday I came home from work, exhausted beyond words. I bring home money for the family, yet the week was brutally stressful! They squeezed me dry! I asked my wife to feed the provider, and she simply pointed at the fridge without moving a finger!
Lauras eyes widened with surprise, outrage, desperation, and horror.
Emily met that stare with calm detachment.
Toms brother, Colin, interjected, I didnt want to speak, but somethings off with Emily. Im a Sundaydad, you know my exgirlfriend Annano shame, no conscience! I only get weekends with Zina, and even then once a month. I live alone, pay child support, so I have no time to clean. Emily asked, and she never refused because she knew where I was and where the chores were! Yet now she points at a broom, tosses a rag under my feet, and tells me not to be a pig!
The girls actually ill, apparently, their son added. I politely asked her to iron my shirt for a date, and she handed me an iron, a tablet video on how to press a shirt, and everything!
Emily listened to both grievances without a flicker of anxiety.
Her mother, Margaret, however, was not amused. Emily, what does that mean? You were such a good girlkind, polite, helpful! Im ashamed of you!
Im not ashamed of myself! Emily replied firmly.
***
Sunlight sometimes falls in patches. Likewise, patience no longer shines as a virtue; people now comment on it with bitterness.
What was the point of enduring? they ask.
Why endure so long?
I would not have endured! they proclaim.
And the outrage multiplies when someone shows patience, as if it were a flaw, while burning bridges at the slightest convenience is praised!
Yet dialogue is lauded when problems are settled with words, not with torched bridges.
Delicacy was Emilys essence. Shed been raised to see each person as a separate world, and to impose ones own measures on anothers soul was, at best, foolish; at worst, catastrophic.
To understand someone, one must stand in their shoes, see through their eyes, think as they think, and only then judge their actions.
Applying this, Emily grasped why her friend had stolen her boyfriend. The first love hurt deeply, but she imagined the boyfriends perspective:
He wanted more, and I wasnt ready. Katie was not only ready but wanted it herself. If Kirill were ten years older, his hormones would be tamed. His actions, then, were logical.
She then considered the friends side:
She came from a large family, always short of cash, with parents demanding she watch younger siblings. Kirills wealthy parents made him an only child; to her he was a ticket out of a family hell, a promise of stability.
That was just one episode; many more existed. She never threw in the towel at the first obstacle, always seeking the motive behind a deed.
At work, when colleagues set her up, she often proved her point and restored fairness, never blaming the offender, merely uncovering the reason. Any reason, unless madness, has a legitimate claim and can justify behaviour.
For Tom, Emily became a treasurea priceless gem. The lions share of Toms flaws were forgiven, relegated to minor irritations. It wasnt perfect, but it was enough; the imperfections were barely noticed.
Not every man knows how to compliment or court gracefully, Emily said. So I wont chastise him for not bringing flowers or opening doors. Ill just pull my own chair in a restaurant, then Ill be comfortable.
She treated Toms lack of tidiness with understanding; his mother had always handled it. He couldnt cook, couldnt work the washing machine, knew nothing of household chores. Emily realised not every man is born a handyman.
She still asked Tom to do things, explained, taught, but most of the time she did it herself.
She also accepted that Tom showed little paternal instinct toward their son, Denis. Science backs him: men generally start engaging with their children around the age of three, when they can converse and play. The screaming infant in the cot remains a mystery; fathers often fear it.
Thus Toms irritation when Denis cried made sense, as did his jealousy when Emily spent more time with their son than with him.
When the marriage passed its tenyear milestone, Emily accepted Toms growing chill.
Old habits die hard! Were not youths with raging hormones any more, she mused.
She understood his need for evenings with friendsworkhome, homework. He craved a change of scenery, a fresh picture.
A strange question surfaced: how would Emily react if Tom took a lover? Could she understand? No answer was needed; Tom never looked left, and that fault never existed.
Emilys life, however, wasnt only about Tom. Their son Denis followed his fathers footsteps, preferring videogame battles over chores despite Emilys pleas. Yet with his dad, a genuine connection formed; Denis saw his father as a role model, naturally.
Emily also had a brother, Colin, younger but of a completely different temperament. He loved noise, drama, conflict, feeding off peoples energy. As a child, Emily often wept over his antics, later recognizing his jealousy and need to control emotions.
His marriage was a brief sprinta volatile clash of two temperaments that ended in divorce, leaving their little daughter Zina without a full family. Colin became a Sunday dad, utterly clueless about household duties, just like Tom.
Before taking Zina for the weekend, Colin asked Emily to tidy his flat and prepare something decent because he was content ordering takeaway.
Zinas former mother visited roughly once a month, so Colins responsibilities were sporadic.
Then there was motherhood. People say Mother is sacred, and theyre right. When a mother asks for help, a child cant refuse. If the request becomes extreme, refusal becomes possible.
Margaret never pretended to be bold; she could clean and cook, had plenty of strength, but she invited Emily mainly for companionship, not labor. Emily welcomed the visits, staying while Margaret cooked and cleaned, chatting.
If Margaret had simply asked Emily to sit, Emily would have left quickly. But while Margaret tidied, they talked, and nothing ominous loomed.
Eventually Emily declared a firm No! to the endless expectations.
Im not ashamed of myself, Im sad for myself, she said. I was foolish to think I could take on everyones flaws and behaviour forever.
She realized her folly: shed cared for others, hoping theyd care for her in return, believing love, respect, and gratitude would follow. Those years had taught her otherwise.
The room fell silent; people were used to Emilys quiet. Now her voice filled the space.
Yes, Im no longer a girl, she continued. Its too late to change everything, but I will only do what I truly want.
If I feel like feeding my husband after work, Ill do itcook, set the table, wash the dishes. If I dont, Tom, you know where the fridge is! Youre old enough to feed yourself! That applies to you, Denis, tooyou’re seventeen now! You can manage cooking, cleaning, ironing if you want a pressed shirt.
She turned to her brother. If I wish to see my niece, Ill come and tidy up your place. If not, you learn the simple task yourself or hire a cleaner. Not me!
And you, dear mother, can welcome your daughter in a tidy flat and treat her to something nice, instead of forcing me to do it all! Emily glared at the sour faces around her, feeling the weight of their disapproval. She didnt want to be everyones convenience; she wanted to be convenient for herself.
Im going home, she announced, standing. If you dislike the new rules, I wont summon anyone, and dont call me.
Tom and Denis returned only for their belongings. Colin stopped calling. Margaret phoned merely to accuse Emily of selfishness.
Selfishness isnt just thinking of yourself, Emily replied, its demanding everyone think of you first, then yourself later. Reflect on that.
Perhaps Emily hadnt intended such a drastic life change, but life unfolded on its own. A new chapter for a new Emilya happy life, all because she said No.
