The clock struck 2:47 a.m., and Rehema lay awake, the sound of the front door creaking open jolting her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the empty side of the bed, her chest tightening with a familiar ache.

Ali's heavy steps echoed down the hall, paired with a faint crash. She sat up, waiting for him, anger and worry battling within her.

The bedroom door swung open. Ali, disheveled, reeking of perfume and alcohol, tossed his phone on the dresser without a word.

"You're late again," Rehema began cautiously, trying to mask her irritation.

Ali froze mid-motion, his bloodshot eyes meeting hers. "And?" His voice was dismissive, daring her to press further.

Rehema inhaled deeply, forcing calm. "It's almost three in the morning. I think I deserve to know where you've been."

Ali chuckled darkly, pulling his tie off. "Deserve? Rehema, do you know how hard I work to provide for this family? Or do you think money grows on trees?"

"That's not the point," she snapped, the sharpness of her tone surprising even herself. "You've been doing this for weeks—late nights, no explanation, coming home smelling like…" She gestured at him, words faltering.

"Smelling like what, Rehema?" He stepped closer, his voice low and threatening. "Say it."

Her silence enraged him further. "This house runs on my hard work. What do you do? Huh? My mother's right—you're lazy. You just sit around, complaining."

Rehema flinched at the insult, anger bubbling beneath her hurt. "Lazy? Do you think taking care of the baby, cleaning, and cooking does itself? While you're out—God knows where—every single night?"

Ali rolled his eyes. "Oh, spare me. If you were half the woman…" He trailed off, but the damage was done.

"Half the woman who?" Rehema's voice rose, her composure unraveling. "Who are you comparing me to now?"

He smirked, unbothered. "At least she doesn't nag me to death. She knows how to let a man live."

Her heart broke, the tears threatening to spill. "Ali, you can't keep treating me like this. You're my husband, the father of our child. Don't you care?"

Ali grabbed his phone, ignoring her plea. "I don't have time for your drama. Go to sleep."

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Rehema in a crushing silence. She sat frozen, staring at the empty doorway. Was this her life now? A marriage filled with coldness and disrespect?

She buried her face in her hands, the tears finally spilling over.

---

Life Lesson:

"Respect and communication are the foundations of love. Without them, even the strongest bonds can crumble, leaving only pain and loneliness.