Halfway through our trip, my body betrayed me — at least that’s how I felt then. I got my period unexpectedly, and the pain came sharp and sudden. The heat, the exhaustion, and the dull ache in my stomach made it hard to move.
That afternoon, I asked if we could skip the excursions we’d planned — just stay in, order room service, maybe watch a movie. I wanted rest and comfort. I wanted compassion.
“You ruined our holiday,” he said flatly.
The words hit harder than the pain itself.
I remember sitting on the edge of that bed, listening to the waves outside the window. I remember realizing that the silence between us had become heavier than any argument. For years I had believed we just needed time, patience, or another vacation to fix things. But that night, as the sound of the ocean echoed through the suite, I felt something inside me quietly shift.
It wasn’t just hurt. It was recognition.
All the Times I Made Excuses
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