Anna was exhausted when she got out of the jeep one night. Sweat, the smell of oil, and a sore back after twelve hours of duty as an assistant cook at a small grocery store. It was the middle of the night, but he knew that he would not be able to rest.

As soon as he opened the door, he heard the voice of his wife, Romy.

“It’s a mess of sin! Your child is going to have to eat a bowl of ice cream again! We don’t have any food tomorrow! “I’m going to do it all over again!” he exclaimed.

Anna didn’t flinch. He just took off his shoes and looked at their daughter Nina, eight years old, who was asleep on the sofa. He gently adjusted the boy’s blanket before standing up again.

“Now, Anna? “You don’t even have an answer?” said Romney, shaking his head.

“I’m just tired…” He replied softly.

“Tired? I can do it too! Am I the only one who can get tired of this?” her husband replied firmly.

He didn’t answer anymore. She went straight to the kitchen, took a shower, and looked out the small window mirror. He could scarcely distinguish himself—he looked dry, devoid of energy, and full of patience.

The next day, he woke up early to prepare breakfast. The house was silent. Romy didn’t complain yet, but he could feel the cold air between them.

Before he went to work, he approached.

“I just want to listen to you without yelling at you,” she said softly. If there is a problem, please tell me… But I hope it doesn’t happen every time.”

Ron looked at her for a moment, but then turned away. “Let’s talk about it later.”

—

A few days later, Anna’s heart sank. But one night, while he was on his way home, he had an accident with the jeep he was driving. He immediately got out to help—a man had been hit by a motorcycle and was bleeding on the road.

He had no medical training, but he didn’t think twice. He used his broom to stop the bleeding and went to the hospital on a tricycle. He returned home at 2 o’clock.

When she entered the house, Romy was awake—visibly worried.

“Where did you come from?! “I wonder what happened to you!” her voice trailed off.

“I just wanted to help something…” Anna replied with a sigh.

Suddenly Romy gave him a hug—tightly, as if frightened.

“I’m sorry… I am complaining too much… I didn’t notice how tired you were,” Romy muttered, almost stunned.

Anna wasn’t immediately impressed. It’s been a long time since he was last hugged like that.

“You go to work every day and then you come home. I was even more tired. “I didn’t think you were running out,” Romy said, shaking her head.

Anna gently grabbed her hand.

“I’m not perfect, Romy. But I do everything for us… “Especially with Nina,” he said softly.

They sat down on the sofa. Silence. But now, it’s no longer silence of silence—it’s of understanding.

—

The next day when Anna came home, she was surprised. The house was clean. There was a smell of cooked vegetables that was his favorite. Nina was coloring at the table, and Romy was standing at the door.

“Go home…” He said with a smile of embarrassment.

“You don’t want to scream?” asked Anna.

“Depends…” “Oh my gosh,” Ryan said, “we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board.”

Anna smiled, and for the first time, that wasn’t hard to hear.

While they were eating, Romney spoke.

“I was thinking last night… I shouldn’t be the only one who hears. I’m not the only one who is tired. I forgot to be with you.”

Anna nodded. “We’re just on the same page. Even if they’re tired, they’re just going to stick together.”

Suddenly, Nina gave them a hug. “You don’t fight anymore, do you?”

Romy smiled and stroked her son’s hair. “Not anymore, son. “We don’t want to leave my mother alone.”

—

The next day wasn’t perfect. There is still a gap. It’s still a tough day. But the way the word was spoken at home was different.

Before the complaint, there was a question first: “How are you?”
Before the scream, there was a sigh: “Are you tired?”

And before going to bed, there are some words that have been forgotten before:

“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I love you.”

And now, every time Ana’s long shift ended, she knew—that when she got home, she wouldn’t be greeted with complaints… A home that was ready to change for him.