Lisa Thompson had always been a woman of balance. Before having children, she managed to juggle work and house chores like a pro. As an accountant at a well-known firm in Santa Clara, California, she worked long hours but never let her home suffer.
She would wake up at five in the morning, make breakfast for her husband, Chad, and herself, then get to work on time. After a long day at the office, she would return home to cook dinner, tidy the house, and prepare for the next day.
For three years, Lisa and Chad lived in marital bliss, and after struggling to conceive, their prayers were finally answered when Lisa’s pregnancy test came back positive. The joy of expecting a child turned to pure elation when they discovered they were having twins. They decorated the nursery together, picked out tiny clothes, and dreamed of the beautiful family they were about to build.
After giving birth to Lucas and Charlie, Lisa decided to take a break from work to be a full-time mom. While she embraced the role wholeheartedly, Chad saw things differently.
“All you do is sit on that couch and relax, Lisa,” he would often say with a smirk. “At least start working out! Just look at how much weight you’ve gained after the pregnancy! Losing a few pounds won’t hurt you.”
Lisa’s heart sank each time he mocked her. She worked tirelessly to care for their babies, barely sleeping through the night, yet her efforts went unnoticed. She excused Chad’s behavior, thinking he was just stressed from work, but deep down, she feared something had changed between them.
Chad’s once affectionate touch had grown cold. He no longer reached for her hand like he used to, nor did he compliment her the way he once had. Every night when she tried to initiate conversations, he brushed her off and went to bed early. One night, she decided enough was enough.
“Honey,” she said gently as she sat beside him on the couch. “I feel like we’re growing distant. Is everything okay?”
Chad didn’t even look up from his laptop. “Lisa, I’m busy.”
“I understand, but we promised to be honest with each other. Have I done something to upset you?”
Chad let out an exasperated sigh. “Noticed what, Lisa? That I’ve been working all day to provide for this family while you just sit at home?”
Lisa’s eyes welled up. “Chad, that’s not fair. I take care of our children and our home. That’s work too.”
Chad scoffed. “Look at yourself! When was the last time you even looked in the mirror? You’ve let yourself go.”
Lisa gasped. “Chad!”
“What? Are you going to cry now and make me the villain? Go ahead! But tell me, Lisa, are you doing this on purpose so I’ll leave you? Are you seeing someone else? Where do you disappear early in the morning and come back before I wake up?”
Lisa stared at him, horrified. “Are you serious, Chad? You think I’m cheating on you?”
“How would I know?” he snapped. “You don’t want to work anymore. You don’t even try to lose weight. All you do is stay home, eat, and gain weight! Fine, do that!”
Lisa was too stunned to speak. Tears streamed down her face as Chad stormed away. She wanted to yell at him, to tell him how exhausted she was, how much she still loved him, but the words wouldn’t come.
That night, Chad sat at his desk, tapping away at his laptop when he heard a loud thud. His heart pounded as he rushed to check on the twins, but they were sound asleep. Then he saw her—Lisa—collapsed on the floor.
“Lisa!” He knelt beside her, shaking her gently. “Lisa, wake up!”
When she didn’t respond, panic gripped him. He grabbed his phone and called 911. The paramedics arrived quickly and rushed Lisa to the hospital. Chad left the twins with their neighbor, Mrs. Clemments, and followed the ambulance, his mind racing with fear.
Hours later, the doctor approached him. “Your wife collapsed due to exhaustion and malnutrition. She’s extremely weak. Has she been eating properly?”
Chad blinked. “She—she’s home all day. She should be well-rested.”
The doctor frowned. “Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job. Many new mothers neglect their own health while taking care of their babies.”
Chad’s stomach twisted with guilt. He returned home that night, his mind filled with the doctor’s words. He sat on the bed, rubbing his temples, when he noticed Lisa’s diary on the nightstand. He hesitated before picking it up.
Flipping through the pages, he read about Lisa’s overwhelming love for their twins, her struggles, and, worst of all, her loneliness. One entry caught his eye:
“Chad doesn’t look at me the same way anymore. I feel like I’m losing him. He thinks I don’t try, but I do! I’ve been waking up before dawn to exercise, but I’m so exhausted that I can barely keep up. I just want my husband to love me the way he used to.”
Chad’s hands trembled. Another entry read:
“I found a new diet and workout plan that promises fast results. It’s intense, but maybe Chad will notice me again if I lose weight.”
Tears blurred his vision. She had been trying, and all he had done was mock her. He had pushed her to the point of exhaustion without even realizing it.
The next day, Chad walked into Lisa’s hospital room with a bouquet of her favorite flowers and a small card.
Lisa looked at him in surprise. “Chad?”
He sat beside her, guilt written all over his face. “Lisa, I am so sorry. I was a complete jerk. You have done so much for our family, and I was too blind to see it.”
Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. “I just wanted us to be happy again.”
Chad took her hand. “We will be. I love you, Lisa. Not for how you look, but for the amazing woman and mother you are.”
Lisa smiled, squeezing his hand. “I love you too, Chad.”
When she returned home, Chad surprised her with a candlelight dinner. As soft music played, he pulled out her chair and poured her wine.
Then he knelt before her. “Lisa Thompson, will you dance with me?”
Lisa laughed through her tears. “Yes, Chad.”
As they danced under the dim glow of candlelight, Chad held her close, vowing never to take her for granted again.
From that day forward, Chad became a different man. He helped Lisa with everything, took her out on weekends, and made sure to remind her every single day, “I love you just the way you are.”
Lisa continued going to the gym, not to lose weight quickly but to stay healthy. And this time, she did it for herself—not for anyone else.
What can we learn from this story?
- Accept people for who they are, not how they look.
- True beauty lies in the heart. Chad fell in love with Lisa all over again when he realized the depth of her love and sacrifices.
- Never take your loved ones for granted. Lisa’s silent suffering taught Chad a lesson he would never forget.
