For years, she bent over backwards to please him, sacrificing her own dreams and desires for the promise of love that had slowly turned into a set of rigid, unspoken rules. Anna had once been full of life and ambition, but in the shadow of her husband’s expectations, she felt her spirit waning.
Every morning, Anna would wake up before the sun, making sure the house was in order and breakfast was ready before Tom even opened his eyes. “You know how I like my eggs, Anna,” Tom would say, not as a request, but as a reminder. She’d smile weakly, setting the plate before him, each day feeling a little more like a servant than a partner.
As the years passed, Tom’s demands grew heavier. “I really think you should quit your job and focus on the house more,” he suggested one evening, his voice dripping with entitlement. Anna felt a pang of frustration but swallowed it, nodding meekly. She abandoned her budding career, believing that maybe by meeting his expectations, he would finally give her the appreciation and affection she longed for.
But Tom never noticed. He took her compliance as a given, never once considering the toll it took on Anna. Her days became an endless loop of chores and acquiescence, punctuated by a growing silence between them. Conversations turned into monologues, where Tom detailed his day while Anna listened, her own words trapped behind a wall of expected obedience.
One evening, as Anna cleared away the dinner plates, Tom casually mentioned, “You should really think about redecorating the living room. It’s looking a bit outdated.” Anna’s hand paused, the weight of a thousand small grievances pressing down on her. She looked at Tom, her voice trembling as she said, “Tom, do you ever think about what I want?”
Tom frowned, surprised. “Well, I just assumed you were happy doing what makes us work,” he replied, failing to see the storm brewing behind her tired eyes.
“What makes you work, you mean,” Anna corrected, her voice gaining strength. “I’ve given up so much, Tom. My job, my dreams. I am tired of living in your shadow, meeting your expectations while mine are ignored.”
Tom sat back, confusion flashing in his eyes. “I thought you liked it this way,” he said, defensive yet uncertain.
“No, Tom. You liked it this way,” Anna countered, years of suppressed hurt spilling forth. “I have been bending over backwards for you, and you never even noticed. It’s always been about you—your needs, your dreams. But not anymore.”
In the days that followed, Anna set about rediscovering herself. She rejoined her old company, taking on projects that reignited her passion. She started making decisions about her life, independent of Tom’s desires. At first, Tom struggled with the change, but slowly, he began to see Anna not just as an extension of himself but as her own person.
Their relationship was different now. Harder in some ways, but more honest. Tom began listening more, truly hearing Anna’s thoughts and feelings. It wasn’t perfect, and maybe it never would be. But by standing up for herself, Anna had found the freedom to live her life by her own rules.