MARRIAGE When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore.
I just pitied her! With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset.
I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head.
Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice.
She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband.... The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
8:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":[[["$","link","css:/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css",{"rel":"stylesheet","precedence":"vite-rsc/importer-resources","href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css","data-rsc-css-href":"/assets/_layout-BzYdn0f6.css"}],"$undefined"],["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center items-center p-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"animate-spin rounded-full h-8 w-8 border-b-2 border-indigo-600"}]}]],"children":["$","div",null,{"className":"bg-white/95 mt-0.5 py-6 sm:py-12","children":["$","article",null,{"className":"mx-auto w-full max-w-2xl format format-sm sm:format-base lg:format-lg format-blue dark:format-invert","children":[["$","header",null,{"className":"mb-4 lg:mb-6 not-format","children":[["$","h1",null,{"className":"mb-4 text-3xl font-extrabold leading-tight text-gray-900 lg:mb-6 lg:text-4xl dark:text-white","children":"In a relationship, married or not... YOU SHOULD READ THIS!"}],["$","address",null,{"className":"flex items-center mb-6 not-italic","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center text-sm text-gray-900 dark:text-white","children":[["$","img",null,{"className":"mr-3 w-8 h-8 rounded-full","src":"$a","alt":"Sunny"}],["$","a",null,{"href":"/author/sunny_73326181482902","rel":"author","className":"font-bold capitalize hover:underline dark:text-white","children":"Sunny"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center ml-1 text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"7 min read"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"Sat May 07 2011","className":"text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400","children":"May 7, 2011"}],[["$","span",null,{"className":"mx-1 text-md text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500","children":"·"}],["$","a","love-and-harmony",{"href":"/t/love-and-harmony","className":"capitalize text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600","children":"love & harmony"}]]]}]}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"lead prose mt-4 text-lg leading-8 text-gray-600","children":["$","div",null,{"dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$b"}}]}],"$Lc","$Ld"]}]}]}] e:T63b,M12.315 2c2.43 0 2.784.013 3.808.06 1.064.049 1.791.218 2.427.465a4.902 4.902 0 011.772 1.153 4.902 4.902 0 011.153 1.772c.247.636.416 1.363.465 2.427.048 1.067.06 1.407.06 4.123v.08c0 2.643-.012 2.987-.06 4.043-.049 1.064-.218 1.791-.465 2.427a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153 1.772 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772 1.153c-.636.247-1.363.416-2.427.465-1.067.048-1.407.06-4.123.06h-.08c-2.643 0-2.987-.012-4.043-.06-1.064-.049-1.791-.218-2.427-.465a4.902 4.902 0 01-1.772-1.153 4.902 4.902 0 01-1.153-1.772c-.247-.636-.416-1.363-.465-2.427-.047-1.024-.06-1.379-.06-3.808v-.63c0-2.43.013-2.784.06-3.808.049-1.064.218-1.791.465-2.427a4.902 4.902 0 011.153-1.772A4.902 4.902 0 015.45 2.525c.636-.247 1.363-.416 2.427-.465C8.901 2.013 9.256 2 11.685 2h.63zm-.081 1.802h-.468c-2.456 0-2.784.011-3.807.058-.975.045-1.504.207-1.857.344-.467.182-.8.398-1.15.748-.35.35-.566.683-.748 1.15-.137.353-.3.882-.344 1.857-.047 1.023-.058 1.351-.058 3.807v.468c0 2.456.011 2.784.058 3.807.045.975.207 1.504.344 1.857.182.466.399.8.748 1.15.35.35.683.566 1.15.748.353.137.882.3 1.857.344 1.054.048 1.37.058 4.041.058h.08c2.597 0 2.917-.01 3.96-.058.976-.045 1.505-.207 1.858-.344.466-.182.8-.398 1.15-.748.35-.35.566-.683.748-1.15.137-.353.3-.882.344-1.857.048-1.055.058-1.37.058-4.041v-.08c0-2.597-.01-2.917-.058-3.96-.045-.976-.207-1.505-.344-1.858a3.097 3.097 0 00-.748-1.15 3.098 3.098 0 00-1.15-.748c-.353-.137-.882-.3-1.857-.344-1.023-.047-1.351-.058-3.807-.058zM12 6.865a5.135 5.135 0 110 10.27 5.135 5.135 0 010-10.27zm0 1.802a3.333 3.333 0 100 6.666 3.333 3.333 0 000-6.666zm5.338-3.205a1.2 1.2 0 110 2.4 1.2 1.2 0 010-2.4z9:["$","footer",null,{"className":"bg-gray-900 dark:bg-gray-900","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 py-4.5 md:flex md:items-center md:justify-between lg:px-8","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"flex justify-center space-x-6 md:order-2","children":[["$","a","Facebook",{"href":"https://facebook.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Facebook"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M22 12c0-5.523-4.477-10-10-10S2 6.477 2 12c0 4.991 3.657 9.128 8.438 9.878v-6.987h-2.54V12h2.54V9.797c0-2.506 1.492-3.89 3.777-3.89 1.094 0 2.238.195 2.238.195v2.46h-1.26c-1.243 0-1.63.771-1.63 1.562V12h2.773l-.443 2.89h-2.33v6.988C18.343 21.128 22 16.991 22 12z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","Instagram",{"href":"https://instagram.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"Instagram"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"$e","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}],["$","a","X",{"href":"https://x.com/gleeztech","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"X"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M13.6823 10.6218L20.2391 3H18.6854L12.9921 9.61788L8.44486 3H3.2002L10.0765 13.0074L3.2002 21H4.75404L10.7663 14.0113L15.5685 21H20.8131L13.6819 10.6218H13.6823ZM11.5541 13.0956L10.8574 12.0991L5.31391 4.16971H7.70053L12.1742 10.5689L12.8709 11.5655L18.6861 19.8835H16.2995L11.5541 13.096V13.0956Z"}]}]]}],"$Lf"]}],"$L10"]}]}] c:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap gap-2","children":[["$","a","75340621808022",{"href":"/t/husband","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"husband"}],["$","a","75361442333078",{"href":"/t/love","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"love"}],["$","a","75369881272726",{"href":"/t/marriage","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"marriage"}],["$","a","75448448975254",{"href":"/t/wife","className":"inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-gray-50 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium capitalize text-primary-600 inset-ring inset-ring-gray-500/10 hover:bg-gray-100 dark:bg-gray-900/30 dark:text-primary-300 dark:hover:bg-gray-800/50 transition-colors","children":"wife"}]]}]}] d:["$","$4",null,{"fallback":["$","div",null,{"className":"comments-skeleton","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"h-6 bg-gray-200 rounded w-32 mb-4 animate-pulse"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"space-y-3","children":[["$","div","1",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","2",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}],["$","div","3",{"className":"h-16 bg-gray-100 rounded animate-pulse"}]]}]]}],"children":"$L11"}] f:["$","a","GitHub",{"href":"https://github.com/gleez","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener noreferrer","className":"text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-500","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"sr-only","children":"GitHub"}],["$","svg",null,{"className":"h-6 w-6","fill":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"fillRule":"evenodd","d":"M12 2C6.477 2 2 6.484 2 12.017c0 4.425 2.865 8.18 6.839 9.504.5.092.682-.217.682-.483 0-.237-.008-.868-.013-1.703-2.782.605-3.369-1.343-3.369-1.343-.454-1.158-1.11-1.466-1.11-1.466-.908-.62.069-.608.069-.608 1.003.07 1.531 1.032 1.531 1.032.892 1.53 2.341 1.088 2.91.832.092-.647.35-1.088.636-1.338-2.22-.253-4.555-1.113-4.555-4.951 0-1.093.39-1.988 1.029-2.688-.103-.253-.446-1.272.098-2.65 0 0 .84-.27 2.75 1.026A9.564 9.564 0 0112 6.844c.85.004 1.705.115 2.504.337 1.909-1.296 2.747-1.027 2.747-1.027.546 1.379.202 2.398.1 2.651.64.7 1.028 1.595 1.028 2.688 0 3.848-2.339 4.695-4.566 4.943.359.309.678.92.678 1.855 0 1.338-.012 2.419-.012 2.747 0 .268.18.58.688.482A10.019 10.019 0 0022 12.017C22 6.484 17.522 2 12 2z","clipRule":"evenodd"}]}]]}] 10:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8 md:order-1 md:mt-0","children":["$","p",null,{"className":"text-sm leading-5 text-gray-400","children":["© 2005 - ",2026," Gleez Inc. All rights reserved."]}]}] 11:["$","div",null,{"className":"mt-8","children":[["$","h3",null,{"className":"text-xl font-semibold mb-4","children":"Voices"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"text-gray-500","children":"Be the first to add your voice to \"In a relationship, married or not... YOU SHOULD READ THIS!\"!"}]]}]