I woke up early, feeling excited about surprising Mira with breakfast. The smell of fresh coffee filled our small apartment as I hummed softly and mixed the pancake batter.
Just as I flipped the first pancake onto a plate, I heard Mira walking into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around me from behind, and I turned to kiss her forehead.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I said with a smile. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
We sat down on the floor, with sunlight streaming through the windows, and I poured us both some coffee. Mira drizzled syrup over her pancakes, her eyes sparkling with delight.
“So, what’s on your schedule today?” she asked, taking a big bite.
I sipped my coffee before replying, “I’ve got that big presentation at 2. What about you?”
“Just a regular shift at the store. I should be home by 6, if everything goes smoothly.”
We talked about our weekend plans as we finished our breakfast. It felt like the perfect morning, the kind that made me feel incredibly lucky to have Mira in my life.
But I had no idea it would be our last peaceful breakfast for a while.
The next morning, Mira’s phone rang sharply at 6 a.m. I pretended to be asleep 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 and glanced over at me before agreeing, “Sure, I’ll be there.”
This became our new routine. Every morning, like clockwork, Gabriel would call at 6 a.m. with another “emergency.” Someone was always sick, running late, or dealing with a family crisis.
Mira would drag herself out of bed, leaving our cozy mornings behind. I’d stay in bed, feeling helpless and frustrated as my wife became the go-to person for every problem at work.
Weeks went by, and I watched as Mira grew more and more exhausted. The sparkle in her eyes faded, replaced by dark circles. She would come home and collapse on the couch, barely able to stay awake during dinner.
I did what I could to help — making sure she had coffee ready in the mornings and taking care of more household chores. But there was only so much I could do against those relentless early morning calls.
One evening, as I was clearing the table, Mira suddenly snapped at me for leaving a dish in the sink. As soon as the words left her mouth, I saw the regret on her face.
“I’m sorry,” she said, rubbing her temples. “I’m just so tired.”
I put down the plate and moved closer to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know, babe. This can’t keep going on. Have you thought about talking to Evelyn?”
Mira shook her head, leaning into my touch. “I don’t want to cause trouble. Gabriel might make things even worse for me.”
I frowned but decided not to push it further. We finished cleaning up in silence, the tension thick between us. As we got ready for bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something needed to change.
The next morning, Gabriel called even earlier — 5:45 a.m. I listened as Mira answered, her voice raspy with sleep. She agreed to be there by 7, already getting out of bed as she hung up.
I couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Was that Gabriel again?”
Mira nodded and slipped back under the covers, resting her head on my chest. I could barely see her tired eyes in the dim light.
“This has to stop, Mira. It’s not fair to you or to us.”
She sighed. “I know, but what can I do?”
An idea popped into my head, fueled by frustration and my desire to see Mira happy again. “What if we gave him a taste of his own medicine?”
Mira looked intrigued. “What do you mean?”
“Call him at some ridiculous hour. Let’s see how he likes it.”
She laughed, but I could see the idea starting to take root. Maybe it was time for her to stand up for herself.
That night, as we lay in bed, Mira whispered, “Do you really think I should do it?”
I rolled over to face her, seeing her face in the dim light. “Babe, you’re exhausted. You’re stressed. This isn’t sustainable. Something has to change.”
She nodded, chewing her lip. “But what if it backfires? What if he fires me?”
“He can’t fire you for giving him a taste of his own medicine,” I reassured her, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “And if he tries, we’ll fight it. You’ve got the call logs to show what he’s been doing.”
Mira took a deep breath, determination filling her face. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
We set her alarm for 3:25 a.m. When it went off, I woke up instantly and watched as Mira sat up, her hand shaking as she reached for her phone. I gave her an encouraging nod as she dialed Gabriel’s number.
The phone rang four times before a groggy voice answered. “Hello?”
“Hi Gabriel, it’s Mira,” she said, trying to sound cheerful. “I was wondering if you needed any extra help today?”
There was a long pause. Then, “Mira? It’s 3:30 in the morning. Why are you calling me?”
I could hear the tremor in Mira’s voice as she replied, “Well, I thought you might need someone to cover an early shift. You know, like how you call me every morning at 6?”
The line went dead. Mira stared at her phone, her hands shaking. I rolled over and gave her a sleepy thumbs up.
“You did it,” I mumbled, feeling a wave of pride. “I’m proud of you.”
Mira barely slept the rest of the night, tossing and turning. I lay awake too, worried about what might happen next. What if this backfired? What if I’d pushed her into making a terrible mistake?
As Mira got ready for work, I could see the nervousness in every move she made. I made her favorite breakfast, trying to be as supportive as I could.
“Whatever happens,” I said as she headed for the door, “we’re in this together. Okay?”
She nodded, managing a small smile before leaving.
The day dragged on. I kept checking my phone, expecting a call or text from Mira. When she finally came home, her face was a mix of relief and disbelief.
“You won’t believe what happened,” she said, collapsing onto the couch beside me.
She told me about her confrontation with Gabriel. How she stood her ground and showed him the call logs. How he backed down and even apologized.
“Wow,” I said, holding her close. “I can’t believe it worked so well! I’m so proud of you for standing up for yourself.”
Mira laughed, sounding lighter than she had in weeks. “Me too. I’m so glad it did.”
I hugged her tightly. “I’m so proud of you, babe. You did great.”
She hugged me back. “I couldn’t have done it without your support.”
Over the next few days, I watched closely for any signs that Gabriel might retaliate. But to my surprise, he kept his word. The early morning calls stopped, and Mira started coming home with a spring in her step again.
One afternoon, about a week after the confrontation, Mira came home bubbling with excitement. She told me how Gabriel had apologized again and was putting new rules in place for shift coverage.
“It feels like a whole new workplace,” she said, her eyes shining. “I actually enjoyed going to work today.”
I pulled her into a hug, feeling a huge weight lift off my shoulders. “I’m so happy for you, babe. You deserve this.”
That night, as we got ready for bed, I noticed a calmness in Mira that I hadn’t seen for months. No more tension in her shoulders, no more worried look as she set her alarm.
One morning, about a week later, I woke up to find Mira still in bed at 7:30. She was snuggled up close to me, my arm draped over her waist. I opened one eye, hardly daring to believe it.
“No call?” I mumbled.
“No call,” she confirmed, her voice filled with relief.
I grinned, pulling her closer. “Looks like our plan worked.”
Mira laughed, sounding happier than she had in weeks. “It sure did. Now, how about some pancakes?”
As we sat down for breakfast, just like old times, I felt incredibly proud of Mira. She had faced a tough situation head-on and had come out stronger. And I was grateful to have been there to support her through it all.
Sometimes, you have to stand up to make things right. And being there to support the person you love through it? That makes all the difference in the world.
