Noah yawned as he sat in his black leather chair, more tired than usual. The security room was humid and stuffy. It even smelled like the fried chicken he’d had for lunch hours ago. He wasn’t used to the unhealthy aroma of fried chicken, but there were still two hours left until he could go home. Instead of complaining to himself, he dug out the rice triangle that was in his forest-green backpack, waiting for him to devour. The rice triangle wasn’t disgusting, but the rice was too sticky, the salmon was too cold, and the seaweed was not crunchy enough. However, he managed to swallow it. He needed energy to not fall asleep too soon.
His wife would always make him bento boxes for him to bring to work, but last night they fought, so his wife refused to cook for him this morning. After years of marriage, they were fighting more and more. Noah wondered if it was the same for every married couple.
They were once a lovely couple like every other couple in their teens. But the years tore their happiness apart. Now only misunderstanding was left and anger filled the space between them. They lost their communication skills and would only assume the worst. Recently, they started fighting about the smallest things — things they would never have imagined fighting over years ago. Noah felt like everything was against his marriage, as if his wife was never meant for him. He knew the thought was wrong because he loved his wife as much as he could, although he still couldn’t keep himself from arguing with her.
Last night, they were fighting because of a news article his wife saw about emotional and physical abuse in families becoming more common.
Don’t you think that one day you’ll begin to abuse me?
What do you mean?
Every day I feel less loved by you; it’s almost like I’m supposed to be your maid, doing everything for you, and expect nothing in return.
He threw the wrappers away in the trash can next to his chair and started staring at the wall of CCTV feeds. There wasn’t much going on at night in this community, so he was mostly just looking at cars driving by and people walking home. He was grateful that the community was peaceful, making his work easier. He would have to play a staring contest with the clock until the hour hand pointed to ten. He didn’t specifically like this job, but he never hated it. It was just a job for a living for which he’d never had any passion.
Time passed and he could feel his eyelids getting heavier each minute. He stood up and drank some water to make himself feel better. The water cleared his throat and his mind as if it delivered magic. He put his water bottle away and sat down again, prepared to stay awake.
His eyes landed on a screen on the bottom left of the CCTV feed. Two young people were standing beneath the street light; it seemed like they were talking to each other. He looked closer and realized they were a couple, arguing over something. The man raised his hand over his head; his hand was almost bigger than the woman’s head. Noah was terrified that the man would slap the woman. He couldn’t take his eyes off the screen, and was ready to run to the street light to report the man.
Except the man didn’t slap the woman, like Noah had predicted; instead, he put his hand right in front of the woman, asking her to hold onto it. Noah questioned this action, but he patiently waited for what would happen next.
The woman seemed confused, like Noah. She looked down at the hand reaching out to her and put her hand out, too. The man grabbed her hand and started leading her to dance with his other hand on her waist. The woman smiled truly as she danced with him. Her white floral dress created waves as they danced happily under the street light. The anger that they had for each other suddenly disappeared in a breeze.
Noah fell in love with the scene and saw the beauty in romance. He remembered that he and his wife were once like this too: innocent, and only able to see love in each other’s eyes. Nothing could change their relationship except for themselves, and this time, he wanted to get the love of his life back. He wanted to thank her for being with him over the years and ask her to continue their fondness for each other in the future.
His wife would always make him bento boxes for him to bring to work, but last night they fought, so his wife refused to cook for him this morning. After years of marriage, they were fighting more and more. Noah wondered if it was the same for every married couple.
They were once a lovely couple like every other couple in their teens. But the years tore their happiness apart. Now only misunderstanding was left and anger filled the space between them. They lost their communication skills and would only assume the worst. Recently, they started fighting about the smallest things — things they would never have imagined fighting over years ago. Noah felt like everything was against his marriage, as if his wife was never meant for him. He knew the thought was wrong because he loved his wife as much as he could, although he still couldn’t keep himself from arguing with her.
Last night, they were fighting because of a news article his wife saw about emotional and physical abuse in families becoming more common.
Don’t you think that one day you’ll begin to abuse me?
What do you mean?
Every day I feel less loved by you; it’s almost like I’m supposed to be your maid, doing everything for you, and expect nothing in return.
He threw the wrappers away in the trash can next to his chair and started staring at the wall of CCTV feeds. There wasn’t much going on at night in this community, so he was mostly just looking at cars driving by and people walking home. He was grateful that the community was peaceful, making his work easier. He would have to play a staring contest with the clock until the hour hand pointed to ten. He didn’t specifically like this job, but he never hated it. It was just a job for a living for which he’d never had any passion.
Time passed and he could feel his eyelids getting heavier each minute. He stood up and drank some water to make himself feel better. The water cleared his throat and his mind as if it delivered magic. He put his water bottle away and sat down again, prepared to stay awake.
His eyes landed on a screen on the bottom left of the CCTV feed. Two young people were standing beneath the street light; it seemed like they were talking to each other. He looked closer and realized they were a couple, arguing over something. The man raised his hand over his head; his hand was almost bigger than the woman’s head. Noah was terrified that the man would slap the woman. He couldn’t take his eyes off the screen, and was ready to run to the street light to report the man.
Except the man didn’t slap the woman, like Noah had predicted; instead, he put his hand right in front of the woman, asking her to hold onto it. Noah questioned this action, but he patiently waited for what would happen next.
The woman seemed confused, like Noah. She looked down at the hand reaching out to her and put her hand out, too. The man grabbed her hand and started leading her to dance with his other hand on her waist. The woman smiled truly as she danced with him. Her white floral dress created waves as they danced happily under the street light. The anger that they had for each other suddenly disappeared in a breeze.
Noah fell in love with the scene and saw the beauty in romance. He remembered that he and his wife were once like this too: innocent, and only able to see love in each other’s eyes. Nothing could change their relationship except for themselves, and this time, he wanted to get the love of his life back. He wanted to thank her for being with him over the years and ask her to continue their fondness for each other in the future.