The text message felt like a slap: “Jenny needs a ride from the gym.” Never mind that I’d just flown 14 hours from Tokyo. Never mind that we hadn’t seen each other in weeks. Once again, David chose his friend’s wife over me.
This time, I refused to quietly accept it. I called Mark, who arrived promptly – proving what real reliability looks like. Inspired, I planned an elaborate “thank you” dinner for Mark that evening. David’s face when he saw the spread – and our guest – was a masterpiece of dawning realization.
As I praised Mark’s thoughtfulness throughout the meal, David’s discomfort grew. “I would’ve come,” he mumbled, “but Jenny really needed help.” My reply cut deep: “And I needed my husband.”
Months later, when Jenny went into early labor, David surprised me. He arranged for Mark to help instead of rushing off himself. That night, holding hands as we waited for news, I finally felt like a priority. The lesson stuck – sometimes you have to lose something to appreciate what you had.