Chapter 4 – The Change Begins

Days passed slowly, and Elena kept trying to fix her marriage. She woke up early, cooked for Jason, and waited for him every evening. Sometimes he came home and said, “You’re still awake?” She smiled softly and said, “I can’t sleep before you come.” He didn’t reply. He just walked away. She sat quietly, hiding her pain. Inside, she prayed, “God, please bring peace between us.”

At first, she thought these were small problems. She believed time could heal everything. But Jason’s behavior became colder every week. He didn’t ask how she was. He didn’t smile anymore. When she tried to talk, he said, “Stop giving lectures.” She stood there, holding her tears. She didn’t want to fight. She only wanted love.

One night, he came home late again. She waited with food. He was drunk. His words were sharp and cruel. “Why do you sit here like a statue? Don’t you have a life?” She said quietly, “My life is with you.” He laughed loudly and said, “Then you must be bored.” She lowered her eyes and whispered, “You’re hurting me.” He didn’t care. He walked away to his room, leaving her broken again.

The next morning, she brought him coffee and said softly, “Jason, please stop drinking. It’s not good for you.” He looked angry and said, “You don’t tell me what to do.” She didn’t answer. She knew shouting back would only make things worse. She sat near him and said, “I’m not trying to control you. I just care for you.” He got up and said coldly, “You care too much. That’s the problem.” Then he left the room.

That night, she sat alone and thought about her life. She remembered the girl she was before marriage — full of hope, full of dreams. Now she felt empty. She whispered to herself, “I wanted peace, but I found pain.” Still, she didn’t give up. She believed that maybe, someday, Jason would see her love.

One weekend, Jason’s friends came to the house. They brought bottles and music. Elena stayed silent. She served them food, smiled, and walked away. One of the friends said jokingly, “Your wife is too quiet.” Jason laughed and said, “Yes, she acts like a saint.” Those words cut her heart deeply. She went to her room and cried softly. She said to herself, “He laughs at my goodness.”

Later that night, when everyone left, Jason came inside. She wiped her tears quickly. He said, “You should talk more when my friends are here.” She said gently, “I don’t drink or joke like them. I don’t fit in your group.” He said, “Then learn to fit. You can’t stay like this forever.” She said with tears in her eyes, “You married me for who I am, not for what others are.” He didn’t answer. He turned on his phone and ignored her.

Days kept moving. Jason’s drinking grew worse. He came home angry for no reason. Once, he broke a cup and shouted, “Stop looking at me with those eyes!” She said softly, “What did I do?” He shouted again, “Everything! You make me feel guilty.” She walked away quietly and sat in a corner. She said in her heart, “Why does love turn into hate?”

One evening, she found him talking on the phone and smiling. When she asked, “Who are you talking to?” he said coldly, “A friend.” She said softly, “You don’t smile like that with me anymore.” He looked annoyed. “You’re starting again?” She whispered, “I’m just missing you.” He walked away without a word.

That night, she wrote in her notebook, I am trying, but he doesn’t see my love. She closed it and prayed again. “God, please give him peace. Help him see what he is losing.”

A week later, her father called. “How are you, Elena?” She said quickly, “I’m fine, Dad. Everything is good.” He said, “You sound tired.” She smiled and lied, “Just busy.” She didn’t want to break his heart. After the call, she cried like a child. She whispered, “I wish I could tell him the truth.”

Soon after, Jason came home with anger in his voice. He said, “I lost a deal today. I need peace.” She said kindly, “You can talk to me. I’ll listen.” He shouted, “No! You never understand!” She looked down and said, “I only wanted to help.” He left again, slamming the door.

That night, she sat near the bed and held her wedding ring in her hand. She said softly, “I will not give up.” Her heart was tired, but her love was still alive. She believed that good always wins in the end.

But deep inside, she started to understand something. She realized that love cannot survive when only one person is trying. She said to herself, “Maybe one day he will regret this. Maybe one day he will remember the woman who prayed for him.”

She closed her eyes and whispered, “God, please give me the strength to face whatever comes next.”