Chapter 2: The Truth Nobody Wanted to Hear
Linda stood up angrily.
"How dare you embarrass your own family."
Daniel didn't raise his voice.
"You embarrassed yourselves."
His brother folded his arms.
"We're guests."
Daniel nodded.
"Guests help."
"Users don't."
The room fell silent.
Emma slowly appeared in the hallway.
She looked frightened.
"Daniel..."
"It's okay."
He reached for her hand.
"No one is yelling at you tonight."
He faced his family again.
"While I was working fourteen-hour shifts..."
"...Emma cooked every meal."
"She washed your laundry."
"She cleaned every room."
"She drove Mom to appointments."
"She even decorated the nursery between contractions."
He paused.
"And every night..."
"...you complained it wasn't enough."
Linda scoffed.
"That's what wives do."
Daniel looked at her with quiet disappointment.
"No."
"That's what kind people choose to do."
"They're not servants."
Just then, Emma suddenly grabbed the kitchen counter.
She gasped.
"Daniel..."
Her face turned pale.
A sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
She doubled over.
Daniel rushed to her.
"Emma!"
Another contraction hit.
Too early.
Very early.
Linda finally looked worried.
"It's probably nothing."
The obstetrician would later disagree.
At the hospital, doctors managed to stop the premature labor.
The physician looked directly at Daniel.
"Your wife is severely exhausted."
"Physically."
"Emotionally."
"Stress almost sent her into labor eight weeks early."
Those words echoed inside Daniel long after the doctor left.
He finally understood.
His wife hadn't been collapsing because pregnancy was difficult.
May you like
She had been carrying an entire household...
Alone.
