Chapter 5 – Nights of Tears
Elena’s days started to feel longer. Her smile was fading little by little. She tried to live normally, but every night ended in pain. Jason’s drinking became worse. He now came home drunk almost every night. Sometimes he spoke loudly. Sometimes he laughed for no reason. And sometimes he said things that broke her heart.
One night, she waited for him again. When he came home, she said softly, “You’re late.” He looked at her with tired eyes and said, “Don’t start. I’m already stressed.” She said calmly, “I just worry about you.” He shouted, “You make me angry when you talk like that!” She stayed quiet, holding her tears. When he left the room, she whispered, “Why does my love hurt him?”
The next morning, she tried to act normal. She made breakfast and said gently, “Please eat something before going.” He said coldly, “I’m not hungry.” She looked at him and said, “You’ll get sick if you skip meals.” He laughed and said, “You act like my mother.” Her eyes became wet, but she smiled and said softly, “I act like a wife who cares.” He didn’t reply.
Later that week, Jason brought his friends home again. They were loud and laughing. He told her to bring food for everyone. She served them quietly. One of his friends said, “Your wife doesn’t talk much.” Jason replied, “She’s old-fashioned.” Everyone laughed. Elena turned away and walked to her room. Her heart was breaking. She said to herself, “He makes jokes about my silence, but my silence hides my pain.”
That night, after everyone left, she tried to talk to him. “Jason, please stop bringing people home every night. I feel so alone in my own house.” He said, “Don’t start again, Elena. You always complain.” She said softly, “I’m not complaining. I’m crying inside.” He didn’t care. He turned on the TV and ignored her words.
The next day, she found a lipstick mark on his shirt. She froze for a moment. Her heart started shaking. When he came home, she said quietly, “Jason, can I ask something?” He said, “What now?” She showed him the shirt and said, “This is not my lipstick.” He laughed and said, “It’s nothing. Stop acting like a detective.” She said in a trembling voice, “Please don’t hurt me like this.” He looked at her with cold eyes and said, “You’re too emotional.” Then he walked away.
Elena couldn’t sleep that night. She sat near the bed, holding her wedding ring. She whispered, “I did everything for this marriage. Why is it breaking?” She cried until her eyes burned. Still, she prayed, “God, please change him. I know there is goodness inside him.”
The next morning, she left a small note for him on the table. It said, I still believe in you. Please stop drinking. Please come back to me. When he saw the note, he smiled for a second but then threw it in the bin. He said to himself, “She doesn’t understand me.”
Her father called that evening. “Elena, how is everything?” She said quickly, “Everything is fine, Dad.” He said, “You sound tired.” She replied, “Just busy, Dad.” She didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth. After the call, she cried again. She said softly, “I can’t tell my parents that their daughter is breaking from inside.”
Jason’s behavior became worse with each passing week. Once, he came home at midnight and shouted, “Why are the lights off?” She said quietly, “I was waiting for you.” He shouted again, “Don’t wait for me. I don’t like pressure.” She whispered, “It’s not pressure, it’s love.” He said, “Then stop loving me like that.” His words hit her like a knife. She didn’t reply. She just walked to her room and cried until she couldn’t breathe.
One evening, when he came home, he said, “I want to go out with friends again.” She said softly, “Can you spend one night with me?” He said coldly, “I’m not a prisoner.” She said in a shaking voice, “I didn’t ask for the world. I just wanted a little time.” He turned and said, “You talk too much.” Then he slammed the door and left.
That night was the worst for Elena. She cried so much that she fainted for a few minutes. When she woke up, she said to herself, “Maybe this is how love dies — not with one fight, but with many small cuts.” She looked up and whispered, “God, please give me strength. I can’t live like this anymore.”
The next morning, Jason didn’t even notice her red eyes. He said, “I’m going out again.” She looked at him and said quietly, “One day you will miss this silence.” He didn’t answer. He just walked away.
Elena sat alone, feeling empty. She didn’t hate him, but she couldn’t love him the same anymore. She said to herself, “He broke every piece of my heart, but I still pray for him.” She didn’t know how long she could live like this, but one thing was clear — her soul was tired now.
She said softly, “I stayed different for love, but maybe love doesn’t stay for me.” She wiped her tears and promised herself, “If tomorrow is worse, I will make a decision. I can’t live in pain forever.”
Her heart still hoped for a miracle, but her mind had already started preparing for goodbye.
