Daniel's Warning

The bedroom door opened slowly. Ann sat at the edge of the bed, removing the earrings she had worn to work. She had been home for almost thirty minutes, but she still hadn't changed. Her body felt heavy. Her feet ached, her back hurt, and her mind was even more exhausted than her body.

She placed one earring on the dresser, then the other. A soft knock sounded but before she could answer, Daniel entered and closed the door behind him.

Ann immediately noticed his expression. Something seems wrong with him.

"We need to talk," he let out.

Her heart sank. Those words rarely meant anything good anymore to her. They even scares her the more. "About what?" She tried not to be rude even when her words came out heavily.

"You."

Her face turned into a frown. "Me?"

"Yes." He answered without a second pass as he walked closer. "I don't know what's happening to you anymore." He added.

"I don't understand." She relayed, truthfully.

"You do."

Ann shook her head in desperation to hear from him. "No, Daniel. I really don't."

He folded his arms. "You've become unbearable."

The words cut deeper than she expected and it made her stare widely at him. "Unbearable?" Her tone was shaken. His words has put her off.

"Yes. Your attitude. Your mood swings. The way you speak to me. The way you behave around my parents."

She sighed. "I don't deliberately disrespect anyone."

"You don't have to deliberately do something for it to be disrespectful."

She swallowed hard. What exactly was he driving out? "Then what exactly have I done?"

Daniel shook his head. "That's the problem. You always want an explanation."

"Because you're accusing me of things I don't understand." She blurted out.

He paused before he uttered. "You've changed."

Ann lowered her eyes. "I know."

"No. You haven't just changed. You've become someone I barely recognize." He conveyed aggressively.

The words brought tears to her eyes and she tried hard to blink them away.

Daniel continued. "When we got married, you were patient. You respected me. You didn't question everything I said." He countered. "You argued with me in front of my mother."

"I was tired." She disclosed.

He ignored her words. "You raised your voice at me."

"I apologized." She wouldn't budge.

"You walked away from me during arguments." He added.

"Because I didn't want things to get worse."

Daniel laughed bitterly. "There's always an explanation."

Ann stared at him. And that was the truth. She was always trying to explain everything. Maybe, just maybe he would understand her.

"What do you want me to say?"

He shook his head. "The question isn't what I want you to say. It's you accepting the truth."

"The truth?" She requested with raised brows, not knowing what he was talking about.

"Tell me why you think you have the right to treat me this way." He said.

Ann opened her mouth in confusion. Nothing came. Because the truth was complicated. She hadn't woken up one morning and decided to become difficult. She was simply tired. Tired of waking up early. Tired of working all day. Tired of coming home to more responsibilities. Tired of caring for their child while carrying another baby. Tired of trying to please everyone. But how could she explain that without sounding as though she was making excuses?

"I don't know," she finally whispered.

Daniel nodded. "Exactly."

He rubbed his forehead. "You don't even know yourself anymore."

Ann felt something break inside her. "I don't think I have the right to treat you badly."

"Then why do you?"

"I don't know." Still confused.

"Then change."

She looked at him. "How?

"Your attitude." He fired.

"What attitude?"

"Everything." And he began listing them. "Stop shouting at me. Stop answering me carelessly. Stop acting as though everyone is against you. Stop behaving as though every responsibility in this family is a punishment."

Ann's expression changed. "Punishment?"

"Yes."

"Do you think I enjoy all of this?"

"I think you've made it clear that you don't."

She stood. "I work all day."

"So do I." He wasn't ready to give her a lead.

"I take care of the children."

"So do I."

"I take care of your parents."

"My parents have lived here longer than you."

Ann stared at him for some while before her respond came in. "Exactly."

Daniel frowned. "What does that mean?"

She hesitated. "It means I came into this house and tried to become everything everyone needed." Her voice trembled. "I tried to be the wife you wanted. I tried to be the daughter your parents wanted. I tried to be the mother our children needed. I tried to be the woman your company needed." She pressed a hand against her chest. And somewhere in all of that, I disappeared."

Daniel said nothing, just watching how she spilled her words.

Ann wiped her cheek. "I wasn't trying to become a bad wife."

He found his voice. "That's not an excuse for disrespect."

"I know."

"Then change." His opinion wasn't going to change. All he wanted was to see her become the same person he met a long time ago.

She nodded slowly. "I'll try."

"No." He shook his head. "Trying isn't enough."

"What do you want from me?" She threw her words, already getting agitated.

"I want my wife back." He fired.

Ann froze and for a moment, her heart softened. "You want your wife back?"

"Yes."

"Then where did she go, Daniel?"

He frowned. "What?"

"I've been here." She pointed toward herself. "I've been here every day." She sighed and continued. "I've been cooking, cleaning, working, taking care of your child and your parents. I've been here." Her voice cracked. "But you keep talking about the woman I used to be."

Daniel looked away. "Because I miss her."

Ann nodded slowly. "So do I."

Silence filled the room.

Daniel looked at her. "What does that mean?"

"It means I miss myself too."

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Daniel's expression hardened again. "I don't want another argument."

"Neither do I."

"Then understand what I'm saying. I need you to change."

"Okay."

"And I won't tolerate disrespect anymore." He concluded.

"Okay."

"I mean it."

"So do I."

Daniel studied her. There was no anger in her voice now. Only exhaustion. He moved toward the door. Then stopped.

"One more thing." Their faces met again.

"Olivia will be staying here."

Her heart dropped. "How long?" She inquired, her voice breaking again.

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Ann looked away.

Daniel continued. "And I expect you to treat her with respect."

She almost laughed at his words. Was he actually serious? Instead, she nodded. "I will."

Daniel opened the door. "I hope you understand me this time."

Ann looked at him. "I understand you."

He left. The door closed while Ann remained still. Then she whispered, "But do you understand me?" There was no answer. She walked toward the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her. For years, she had tried to hold her marriage together by giving more of herself. Tonight, she wondered what would happen if she stopped. She touched her stomach. "I don't want to fight anymore." She closed her eyes.

---

Downstairs, Daniel entered the sitting room and saw Olivia was sitting on the sofa, reading a magazine.

When she noticed him, she looked up. "How did it go?"

"She understands." Olivia smiled.

"Good."

"She needs to change."

Olivia closed the magazine. "Do you really think she will?"

"She said she would."

"And do you believe her?" She asked, rhetorically.

Daniel looked toward the staircase. "I don't know."

Olivia stood and approached him. "You know, Daniel, sometimes people only change when they realize they can lose something."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"

"Nothing.” She smiled. "I just think you should remain firm."

"I am."

"Good." Olivia touched his arm. "Don't let her tears make you weak."

Daniel looked at her hand. For a moment, he remembered the day Ann was crying profusely in the bathroom. It has torn his heart but there was still one thing she was missing. Herself. He wants the lady he fell in love with. He gently removed Olivia's hand. "I'm not weak."

"I know."

He walked away.

Olivia's smile disappeared. She wasn't worried about Ann changing. She was worried about Daniel changing. If Daniel began to understand his wife's pain, her plan could collapse. She looked toward the staircase. "Let's see how long you can keep pretending to be strong, Ann."