After a night of revelry at his brother’s bachelor party, John was certain his wife, Allison, would be furious or even contemplate divorce. Instead, he awoke to find a rose, two pain-relief medications, and a loving note on his bedside table, sparking a humorous revelation about their 25-year marriage.
My wife, Allison, and I have been together for 25 years. Our journey together has been filled with love, laughter, and challenges, as is typical for any long-term relationship. We met in college and quickly became inseparable.
We bonded over our love for classic movies and long hikes in the mountains. Over the years, we’ve built a life together, raising two wonderful children and supporting each other through thick and thin.
Lately, however, things have been tough. Allison started expressing that I don’t spend much time with her and questioned if I still loved her. These conversations usually happened late at night when I returned home, exhausted from my demanding new job.
Allison laughed softly and gave up trying to undress me. She pulled the covers over me and kissed my forehead. “Goodnight, Sir Lancelot,” she said, amusement in her voice.
As I lay there, drifting off to sleep, I remembered one last thing. I had grabbed her hand and said, “I love you, Allison. You’re my princess.” She squeezed my hand in response, and I fell into a deep, alcohol-induced slumber.
Back in the dining room, I looked at Jake and smiled sheepishly. “Well, I guess I made quite an impression.”
Over breakfast, I reflected on our life together. We had been through so much—raising kids, job changes, financial struggles, and personal losses. Yet, through it all, Allison had been my rock. Her patience, love, and unwavering support had kept our family strong. I realized that I needed to reciprocate and be more present for her.
After breakfast, I took Allison’s hand and led her to the living room. “Allison,” I began, “I’m sorry for the way I’ve been neglecting you. I love you more than anything, and I promise to make more time for us.”
She looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know you love me, but I need to feel it more often. Let’s work on this together.”
We spent the rest of the day talking about our dreams, fears, and plans for the future. It felt like we were reconnecting on a deeper level, rediscovering the bond that had brought us together in the first place. We agreed to set aside time each week for date nights, no matter how busy our schedules were.
As the weeks passed, I made a conscious effort to prioritize our relationship. We went on long walks, watched our favorite movies, and even went on a weekend getaway to the mountains. Each small gesture of love and attention helped rebuild the trust and intimacy we had lost.