My wife’s boss was ruining our lives with his 6 a.m. calls, so I suggested she give him a taste of his own medicine. Our late-night revenge call set off a chain of events that would either save our sanity or destroy her career — and our peaceful mornings hung in the balance.
I woke up early, determined to surprise Mira with breakfast. The smell of coffee filled our small apartment as I mixed pancake batter, humming softly to myself. As I flipped the first golden disk onto a plate, I heard Mira padding into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around me from behind, and I turned to plant a kiss on her forehead.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I said, smiling. “Breakfast is almost ready.” We sat down on the floor, sunlight streaming through the windows. I poured us both coffee as Mira drizzled syrup over her stack of pancakes.
“So, what’s on the agenda today?” she asked, taking a bite. “I’ve got that big presentation at 2. You?” “Just a regular shift at the store. Should be home by 6 if all goes well.”
We chatted about our plans for the weekend as we finished eating. It was a perfect morning, the kind that made me feel lucky to have Mira in my life. Little did I know, it would be our last peaceful breakfast for a while.
The next morning, Mira’s phone rang at 6 a.m. sharp. I pretended to sleep as she fumbled for it, squinting at the screen. “Hello?” she mumbled, trying to sound awake. I could hear Gabriel’s voice on the other end. “Mira, Sarah’s called in sick. Can you come in early to cover her shift?”
Mira sighed, glancing at me before agreeing. “Sure, I’ll be there.” This became our new normal. Every morning, like clockwork, Gabriel would call at 6 a.m. with another “emergency” — someone was sick, running late, or had a family crisis. Mira would drag herself out of bed, leaving our cozy mornings behind.
I’d lie there, feeling helpless and increasingly frustrated as my wife became the go-to solution for every staffing problem. Weeks passed, and I watched as Mira grew more exhausted. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, replaced by dark circles. She’d come home and collapse on the couch, barely able to keep her eyes open during dinner.
I tried to help where I could — making sure she had coffee ready in the mornings, taking on more household chores. But there was only so much I could do to combat the relentless early morning calls. One evening, as I was clearing the table, Mira snapped at me for leaving a dish in the sink. The moment the words left her mouth, I could see the regret on her face.
