Thick silence filled the air as Lisa Thompson sat alone in the dimly lit bedroom, staring at the reflection in her mirror. Her eyes traced the outline of her face, the softness of her body, the changes that came after carrying twins. She sighed, remembering how different things used to be.
For years, Lisa had juggled work and home life seamlessly. As an accountant at a well-known firm in Santa Clara, California, she handled numbers by day and managed a perfect home by night. She’d wake up at 5 a.m., prepare breakfast for her husband Chad, and still arrive at work on time. Then, in the evening, she would rush home to cook dinner, ensuring everything was in order.
Chad had always been supportive, lending a hand where he could. But everything changed after Lisa gave birth.
Lisa and Chad had been married for three years. They had struggled for a long time to have a baby, and when Lisa’s pregnancy test finally showed two pink lines, the couple had celebrated with overwhelming joy. Their happiness doubled when they discovered they were having twins. But after the birth of their sons, Lucas and Charlie, things took an unexpected turn.
Lisa decided to take a break from work to care for the babies. She embraced her role as a full-time mother, but Chad saw it differently.
“All you do is sit around all day, Lisa. At least start working out! Look at how much weight you’ve gained after pregnancy!” Chad would mock her with a smirk, barely sparing her a glance.
Lisa felt crushed. She had sacrificed her job to be there for their children, yet Chad acted as if she was doing nothing. She told herself that maybe he was just stressed from work. But deep down, she feared something worse—was Chad losing interest in her?
The way he avoided her, the lack of appreciation, the cold way he dismissed her efforts—it was all building up inside her. She decided she couldn’t stay silent anymore.
One evening, while Chad was working on his laptop, she sat beside him. “Honey, I feel like something’s wrong between us. You’ve been distant lately. Can we talk about it?” she asked softly.
Chad didn’t even look up. “Lisa, it’s nothing. I’m just busy.”
“Are you sure? Because I feel—”
“Feel what, Lisa?” Chad snapped, slamming his laptop shut. “That I don’t love you anymore? That I don’t care? Maybe if you spent more time taking care of yourself instead of sitting around the house, you wouldn’t feel that way! When was the last time you even looked in the mirror?”
Lisa’s heart pounded. “Chad! How can you say that?”
“Oh, are you going to cry now? Go ahead! Make me the bad guy! You know what? I don’t even recognize you anymore. Why can’t you be like other women? Look at your friends! They take care of themselves. But you? You just sit here, eat, and gain weight! Are you even trying to push me away on purpose? Are you seeing someone else? Where do you disappear every morning?”
Lisa gasped. “Are you serious? You think I’m cheating on you?”
Chad folded his arms. “How would I know? All I see is you making excuses to stay at home all day. We could afford a babysitter, but no, you’d rather laze around and let yourself go. Fine! Do whatever you want!”
With that, Chad stormed out of the room, leaving Lisa stunned, her heart shattered into pieces.
Hours later, while Chad was still working, a loud thud echoed through the house. He jumped up, thinking it was one of the twins. But when he rushed out, he found Lisa collapsed on the floor.
“Lisa! Wake up! What’s wrong?!” he shouted, shaking her. She didn’t respond.
Panicked, he grabbed his phone and dialed 911. Minutes later, the paramedics arrived, rushing Lisa to the hospital. Chad asked their neighbor, Mrs. Clemments, to watch the twins while he followed the ambulance.
At the hospital, the doctor’s words hit him like a ton of bricks. “Your wife collapsed due to extreme exhaustion and stress. She needs rest, both physically and emotionally. Has she been eating properly?” the doctor asked.
Chad swallowed hard. How could she be weak? Hasn’t she just been resting at home? He ran a hand through his hair, guilt creeping in.
Later that night, when he returned home, his eyes landed on Lisa’s diary lying on their bed. He hesitated but then picked it up. As he flipped through the pages, his heart clenched.
“Today was the best day of my life! I finally became a mom! Lucas and Charlie are perfect, and Chad was so emotional when he first held them. I know he’ll be the best dad, but I’ll make sure our babies love their mama the most!”
Chad smiled, his eyes misting over. But as he continued reading, his smile faded.
“I don’t know what’s happening… Chad barely looks at me anymore. I know he’s busy, but I feel like I’m disappearing. Should I talk to him? Maybe it’s just stress from work. I hope things get better soon.”
Page after page, Chad read about Lisa’s silent struggles, her insecurities, her fears. Then, one entry made his stomach twist.
“Chad thinks I’m lazy, but he doesn’t see how hard I’m trying! I started waking up before sunrise to go to the gym. I found this place that promises fast results. But the diet is awful, the supplements make me nauseous, and I feel so drained. Still, I have to do it. I have to prove to Chad that I care.”
Chad shut the diary, his hands trembling. How had he been so blind? Lisa had been exhausting herself, trying to please him, while he did nothing but mock her.
The next morning, he walked into Lisa’s hospital room with a bouquet of her favorite flowers and a small card. When she opened her eyes, he placed them gently in her hands.
Lisa stared at them, surprised. “Chad…?”
He sat beside her and held her hand. “I was horrible to you, Lisa. I said things I never should have. I was so focused on what I thought you weren’t doing that I never saw what you were actually going through. I’m so sorry. You are beautiful just the way you are. I love you, and I promise to be better.”
Tears welled up in Lisa’s eyes. “Chad… I – I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, sweetheart. Just get better, okay? The kids and I need you.”
When Lisa was discharged, Chad surprised her with a candlelight dinner. The room was beautifully decorated, soft music played in the background, and as she sat down, he poured her a glass of wine.
Then, with a playful smile, he got down on one knee and extended his hand. “Mrs. Lisa Thompson, will you dance with me?”
Lisa laughed softly, placing her hand in his. “Of course, Mr. Thompson.”
As they swayed to the music, she rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth she had missed. From that day forward, Chad became a different man—supportive, loving, and always reminding Lisa, “I love you for who you are, honey.”
Lisa still went to the gym, but now, it wasn’t for anyone else—it was for her own happiness and health.
Lesson to Learn: Love isn’t about appearance; it’s about support and understanding. Chad forgot why he fell in love with Lisa until he nearly lost her. True beauty lies within, and real love sees beyond the surface.
