Erin and Mike got married at 20 and had the best marriage anyone could want. But at 76 years old, Mike realized they were too old for all that romance, mainly because it was one-sided. Erin was heartbroken and asked for a divorce, but a shocking event happened.
“I don’t understand why you don’t bring me flowers anymore,” Erin whined to her husband, Mike, one day. After 56 years of marriage, her husband had suddenly stopped being romantic, something that had made their relationship the envy of everyone they knew.
“Erin, you are not going to die if I don’t bring flowers every day,” Mike answered from his place on the couch, his hand grabbing the remote control to flip a channel.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Erin was displeased. “But that’s not fair. For the past month, you’ve stopped every single romantic gesture. What’s happening? Are you having an affair? AT OUR AGE?” she exclaimed in outrage, placing her hands on her waist.
“For God’s sake, Erin. It’s been decades since we got married, and I’ve given you something every day since. But I stop for a while and suddenly I’m cheating on you? Are you crazy?” Mike asked, focusing on his wife.
“I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND! DON’T YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE?” Erin yelled.
Mike stood up from the couch at that question and looked at his wife seriously. “Maybe I’m tired of being the only one making some sort of romantic gesture!” he blurted. “56 years, Erin! For 56 years, I was the only one expressing any kind of romance. I invite you on dates. I buy flowers. I buy gifts. I do EVERYTHING! And you simply take everything and give nothing back!”
Erin’s mouth dropped at her husband’s words, but Mike didn’t stick around to see it and went out for a walk to cool down.
Meanwhile, she slumped on the kitchen table and thought back to their marriage. Mike was not entirely wrong. She never asked him on dates or bought him much. Erin could excuse her behavior, saying that they were born in a different time, where the men made all the effort in the romance aspect. But that was a cheap cop-out.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Erin thought maintaining their home, cooking, and raising their children was enough. But their kids had moved away many years ago. She still cleaned and cooked, but clearly, her husband had all the pressure of keeping their spark alive. That was unfair to him, so Erin decided to change a few things.
When Mike returned, she asked him on a date and was going to pay. However, her husband refused.
“I don’t want to do that right now,” he said, going to their room and barely speaking to her that night.
Fair enough, Erin thought. Mike was angry at her, but she could be patient and wait for his anger to subside.
Unfortunately, nothing she did appeased him. Mike would not accept her tries at romantic gestures and grew angry every time she insisted. Erin bought him some flowers at one point, and he frowned at them.
“These are more for you, right?” Mike asked, still frowning and quirking one eyebrow. “You don’t have to keep doing these things, Erin. We are already too old for this.”
“What do you mean? I’m trying to give back what I haven’t in 56 years. Why can’t you accept it?” Erin snapped back, raising her hands at her sides. She was completely confused by his attitude now. Wasn’t this was he asked for?
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Because this is not what I wanted. I just want us to relax and stop trying so hard. We’re old. We’ve had more than enough romance in our lives. Now, it’s time to just… be,” Mike replied, giving her the flowers back and going to the porch for a smoke.
Erin looked at him sitting outside, and her heart broke. She couldn’t deal with it. She didn’t understand why he suddenly didn’t want any romance. Is there an expiration date for love? Erin thought glumly, walking back to her room.
She tried to make this new arrangement work, but it was hard. Mike didn’t kiss or hug her as often. Suddenly, she was also shy around him. That had not happened in half a century. Two months passed since then, and it simply wasn’t working.
Therefore, Erin asked him for a divorce. She couldn’t live with someone she didn’t love.
Mike was shocked but agreed to move while Erin stayed in their house. Their son, Henry, took him in, although this new arrangement concerned the rest of their children. Their two daughters, Alexandra and Marissa, tried to change Erin’s mind, but their mother was determined.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“If the romance is over, there’s no reason to be married,” she told her girls stubbornly. Shortly after, Erin filed for divorce, and a few months later, it was finalized.
Mike was still at Henry’s house when the landline rang. Henry’s wife answered and suddenly exclaimed, “What?!”
The older man looked up from his novel, focusing on his son’s wife, as she turned to look at him with the most concerned expression on her face. “Ok, we’ll be right there,” she said to the phone and hung up. “Mike, we have to go to the hospital. Erin just had a heart attack!”
Mike’s eyes widened in surprise before he went into action. He rushed to his jacket, throwing his book and reading glasses away.
When they reached the hospital, the doctor explained that Erin was alright but couldn’t move much. Mike sat down beside her and never left. He hand-fed her and kept her company. When she was discharged, he refused to leave their house, claiming that he was there to help.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
But Henry, Marissa, and Alexandra knew the truth. Their dad was back home because he loved their mother and never stopped despite the divorce. Soon enough, the flowers and the romantic gestures kept coming again.
And when Erin got better, she returned the gestures so that Mike would never feel slighted ever again. They rekindled their romance and remarried on what would’ve been their original 58th anniversary.
What can we learn from this story?
- Reciprocation is essential in any relationship. Both partners must work hard to maintain a relationship.
- Find out your spouse’s love language. Some people love giving gifts, and others prefer acts of service. It’s crucial to find out what your partner likes before creating problems.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
Parents’ Love Drives Them to Remove Daughter’s Birthmark
Parents go above and above for their kids in order to assist and safeguard them. Celine Casey, a British woman, took an exceptional step for her daughter Vienna Brookshaw. Vienna, who was born in April 2021, had a birthmark between her eyebrows on her forehead.
Congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), the birthmark, didn’t present any health issues, but Casey was concerned about the emotional effects it would have on Vienna as she got older.
An Uncommon Illness
A rare disorder known as congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) occurs when a baby is born with a harmless cluster of pigment cells. These cells have the capacity to proliferate along with the child. Fearing that Vienna would grow to hate her parents, Casey went straight to the physicians to discuss her choices for having the birthmark removed, worried about the difficulties her daughter might encounter later on.
“We cherish every moment of Vienna’s journey and eagerly await the day she can express her own thoughts,” said Vienna’s mother, Casey, who is immensely compassionate. We would always and forever love her, birthmark or not.
The Need to Be Accepted
Casey was inspired to have Vienna’s birthmark removed because her infant seemed uncomfortable with people staring at her. Vienna was handled differently than other babies, which made her even more determined to pursue the removal.
Overcoming Difficulties
When Casey first requested the operation, the National Health Service (NHS) turned him down because they said it was more cosmetic than necessary for his medical well-being. Unfazed, Casey launched a crowdfunding effort to secure the required sum of money from kind donors. The campaign raised an incredible $52,000 in just one day. Unfortunately, they still need an extra $27,000 for the procedure because of higher hospital expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an attempt to raise additional funds, they went back to GoFundMe to pay for Vienna’s birthmark removal procedure. “Everyone has insecurities about their body,” said Casey. We perceived it differently, even though the doctor assured us that it wouldn’t currently affect Vienna’s mental health. Little ones are sensitive and pick up on these things, especially when they begin school at age three.
A Pathway to Recovery
Vienna’s birthmark has been successfully removed, and she is now a healthy two-year-old with just a tiny scar remaining on her forehead. Casey frequently remarks on her newborn girl’s extreme beauty while providing regular updates on her daughter’s recuperation.
The concerned parents went so far as to fly to London to have the surgeon confirm that the little scar was healing. Vienna had already undergone three operations and therapies, so they wanted to make sure she wouldn’t need any more. Fortunately, she is well at the moment and doesn’t need any more medical attention.
Vienna’s Promising Future
We send little Vienna our warmest regards. We wish her a lifetime of health and pleasure as she grows up. Do not hesitate to tell others about her inspirational tale!
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