My husband hadn’t given me a single gift in three years, not even for my birthday. So I hatched a plan to teach him a lesson, but things quickly spiraled out of control, and I found myself facing the possible end of our marriage.
I stared at the calendar, my stomach twisting into knots. Another birthday was approaching, and I knew exactly how it would go. Garrett would forget, or worse, he’d remember and still do nothing. It hadn’t always been this way.
A calendar laid out on a desk | Source: Pexels
Six years ago, when we got married, Garrett was the most attentive husband. He’d surprise me with flowers, plan romantic dinners, and we’d take long walks in the park every evening. But for the past three years, things have changed, and he was no longer the man I initially married.
“Hey, want to grab dinner at Golden Dragon tonight?” I asked Garrett one Friday evening, hoping to rekindle our old tradition.
He barely looked up from his phone. “Nah, I’m not in the mood for Chinese. Let’s just order pizza.”
A man sitting, focussed on his mobile phone | Source: Pexels
I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face. “Okay, sure. Pizza it is.”
As the days went by, I found myself walking alone in the park more often than not. Garrett always had an excuse: work, tiredness, or simply not feeling like it. The distance between us grew, and I felt more alone with each passing day.
On my last birthday, I’d waited all day for some sign that Garrett remembered. When he came home empty-handed, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Did you forget what day it is?” I asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
A woman standing with her back to the wall in a living room | Source: Pexels
Garrett looked confused for a moment, and then realization dawned on his face. “Oh, right. Happy birthday, Naomi.”
“That’s it? No card, no gift, nothing?”
He shrugged. “Gifts are a waste of money. You don’t need to get me anything either.”
His words stung more than I cared to admit. I wasn’t after expensive presents; I just wanted to feel loved and appreciated.
As my next birthday approached, I decided it was time to teach Garrett a lesson. I hatched a plan that I hoped would open his eyes to what he was losing.
A woman sipping from a cup, looking thoughtfully out of a window | Source: Pexels
On the morning of my birthday, I got ready for work as usual. Garrett was already gone, having left early for a meeting. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come.
At work, I placed an order for a beautiful bouquet of roses and a pair of gold earrings to be delivered to my office. When they arrived, my coworkers oohed and aahed.
“Secret admirer?” my friend Tessa asked with a wink.
I forced a smile. “Something like that.”
A woman at a work desk, smiling | Source: Pexels
As the day wound down, I approached my boss, Caleb. “Hey, I hate to ask, but could I get a ride home? My car’s in the shop.”
Caleb hesitated. “I don’t know, Naomi. It’s a bit out of my way —”
“Please?” I pleaded. “It would really help me out.”
He finally agreed, and we left the office together. During the drive, I filled him in on my plan.
“Are you sure about this?” Caleb asked, concern evident on his face. “It sounds like it could backfire.”
A man driving a luxury car | Source: Pexels
I nodded, determination fueling my resolve. “I have to do something. He needs to wake up and realize what he’s doing to our marriage.”
As we pulled up to my house, I saw the curtain twitch. Garrett was home, and he’d seen us arrive. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, flowers and jewelry box in hand.
“Thanks for the ride!” I said to Caleb, loud enough for Garrett to hear.
A woman stepping out of a car in a drive | Source: Pexels
I walked into the house, my pulse racing. Garrett was waiting in the living room, his face a storm of emotions.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded. “And what’s all that?”
I tried to keep my voice casual. “Oh, these? Just some birthday presents. My boss gave me a ride home since my car’s in the shop.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “Your boss? The guy who just dropped you off? Did he give you that stuff? Is he still out there?”
I nodded, watching as anger flashed across his face.
A man standing angrily in a living room | Source: Midjourney
Without another word, Garrett stormed past me and out the front door. I followed him, with my plan unraveling before my eyes.
To my horror, Garrett marched straight up to Caleb’s car and yanked open the driver’s door. He grabbed Caleb by the shirt, pulling him halfway out of the vehicle.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my wife?” Garrett shouted.
Panic seized me. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I ran towards them, shouting at the top of my lungs.
A woman running down a driveway | Source: Pexels
“He didn’t give me anything! I bought the flowers and jewelry myself! I just asked for a ride to make you jealous!”
Garrett froze, his grip on Caleb loosening. Caleb took the opportunity to scramble back into his car and speed away, leaving us standing in the driveway.
Garrett turned to me, his face a mask of confusion and anger. Without a word, he brushed past me and went back into the house.
A man walking up steps on a property | Source: Pexels
I followed him inside, my carefully constructed plan lying in ruins at my feet. All the pent-up frustration and hurt from the past three years came pouring out.
“What was I supposed to do?” I cried. “You’re not the man I married anymore! I’m not sure you even love me! I don’t know if you’re happy with me or if I’m happy with you!”
Tears streamed down my face as I continued to vent my feelings. Garrett stood there, silent and stone-faced.
A close up of a woman crying | Source: Pexels
When I finally ran out of steam, Garrett turned and walked out of the house. The door closed behind him with a quiet click, leaving me alone with my tears and regrets.
As the minutes ticked by, my mind cycled through every possible scenario. Had he left for good? Was he calling a lawyer? The silence in the house was deafening, broken only by the occasional sob that escaped my throat. I checked my phone obsessively, hoping for a text or call, but there was nothing.
A woman checking her phone anxiously | Source: Pexels
After what seemed like hours, but was probably closer to forty-five minutes, I heard a car pull up outside. My heart leaped into my throat. Was it Garrett? Or had he sent someone to collect his things?
The sound of the door opening made me jump. Garrett walked in carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. He sat down next to me on the couch, his expression kinder than before.
A man holding a bunch of flowers behind his back | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ve been a terrible husband.”
I wiped my eyes, hardly daring to believe what I was hearing. “You have?”
Garrett nodded. “I got so caught up in trying to provide for our future that I forgot about our present. I thought if I saved money on things like gifts, we’d be better off in the long run. But I see now how much I’ve hurt you.”
“I don’t need expensive gifts,” I said. “I just need you. The man I fell in love with.”
A woman in conversation with someone, making a point | Source: Pexels
We talked for hours that night, laying bare all the fears and insecurities that had driven us apart. Garrett admitted he’d felt inadequate, worried he couldn’t give me the life he thought I deserved. I confessed my loneliness and doubts about his love for me.
As the sun began to rise, we made a pact to prioritize our relationship again. Garrett promised to be more attentive, and I vowed to communicate my feelings more openly.
Sunlight streaking into an apartment in the early morning | Source: Pexels
A month later, we found ourselves walking hand in hand through the park at sunset, just like we used to. As we paused to watch the colors paint the sky, Garrett turned to me.
“I love you, Naomi,” he said, pulling me close. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”
I smiled, feeling truly happy for the first time in years. “I love you too. Always have, always will.”
As we shared a kiss, I knew we still had work to do. But for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about our future together.
A couple sharing a happy moment at sunset | Source: Pexels
