When The Gaslight Went Out

Synopsis

I had fought tooth and nail for that project, three brutal months of sleepless nights, and when I finally secured it, I raced home, eager to surprise my boyfriend. All he said were indifferent words. "Oh, really? Congrats." Then came the buzzkill. "That client's notorious for being difficult. Don't get too happy too soon." My victory was worth no more than a second of his perfunctory praise. But on our fourth anniversary, I watched him smile, really smile, for the first time in ages. Not at me, but at his phone, at a stupid cat emoji from a new junior at work. Her playful teasing earned his full patience, his undivided attention. Later, that same girl sent over a surprise tiramisu to our anniversary dinner table. He blamed me for making a scene over something so trivial, calling me unreasonable and praising her for being sweet and innocent. It turned out my hurt was nothing more than petty jealousy, while her boundary-crossing gifts were innocent gestures that deserved understanding. Years later, that same man, the calm, condescending one who always held me to a double standard, stood before me with reddened eyes. With laughter echoing around him, he screamed through a breaking voice, asking why I didn't love him anymore.