A Good Husband

Five Years Ago

“Oh, Reginald! Yes! Absolutely yes!”

Joanne threw herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He chuckled as he held her up, careful not to lose the expensive engagement ring.

He gave her gentle kisses upon her cheek and lips before sitting her back down. She held out her hand and let him slide the ring on.

It was such a beautiful moment.

“For a moment there, I thought you were gonna give me something cheap, like a plastic ring from a kid’s toy machine, again,” she commented. “It’s about time you learnt my worth.”

Because a good husband shows his affection through actions, by buying expensive things that his wife doesn’t need nor appreciate.

Four Years Ago

“I think Bradley should be the best man,” she told him.

He stared at her in confusion. “Your ex?”

“Just because he’s an ex doesn’t mean we aren’t on good terms with each other still,” she defended. “He’s literally my best-friend. He’s gonna be the best man.”

“Isn’t the best man usually from the husband’s side of the family?” he asked.

“This is my day, not yours; the best man will be Bradley or there won’t be a wedding. Get your head out of your ass; no one cares about your family. It’s about the bride, not about the groom.” She stormed off. He just sighed; it was probably just wedding jitters or something.

Only his parents attended the wedding; everyone else was someone his wife knew, either as family or as a friend or as a friend of a friend. He knew no one, but his own blood.

Because a good husband should treat his wife with respect, valuing her opinions, feelings, and individuality without expecting the same in return.

Three Years Ago

He was beginning to tell his visiting in-laws a funny story from when he first started dating his wife when she rudely interrupted.

“This story is stupid. No one wants to hear it.”

“…But you would laugh when I’d tell it to our friends,” he said, confused by her behavior.

“No, I didn’t,” she lied, gaslighting him. She looked at her relatives. “He’s always remembering things wrong.”

“…Right. Sure…” he mumbled, no longer feeling like conversing with everyone.

He sat there silently, just nodding in agreement every now and then, as his wife told humiliating, embarrassing, and private stories about him. And stayed silent as she boasted about his money, about how supportive he was when she miscarried, and so on, and so forth.

Because a good husband should support his wife emotionally, financially, and so on, and so forth.

Two Years Ago

He caught her in bed with her ex. On three separate occasions, all events occurred inside his own house. He couldn’t sleep in their bed anymore. He couldn’t sleep on the couch. And he couldn’t eat at the dining table.

He stayed at his parents’ house for a single night, each time, before immediately returning to her the next day. She’d beg for forgiveness and he would accept it. She’d mention marriage counseling and he’d agree.

Nothing ever changed, though. But still, he stayed.

Because a good husband should always stay committed to the marriage, working to overcome hardships and challenges.

One Year Ago

He mowed the lawn.

He paid the bills.

He cooked her food.

He vacuumed.

He did the laundry.

He took out the trash.

He cleaned the house, top to bottom.

Because a good husband has shared responsibilities. A wife shouldn’t be doing all the housework.

Six Months Ago

“You did what?!” he exclaimed, staring at his wife in horror.

“I said I slept with Bradley again. I’m so sorry,” she sweetly stated, apologizing for cheating yet again while looking so smug about it.

“Why? I thought we were past this.” Maybe.

“He has a really big dick. It reaches all the right places. You know how I am sometimes, baby. It won’t happen again. I’ll use a dildo next time when I want all the spots hit.” She kept looking so smug.

“…Okay. Whatever you say.”

Because a good husband is always patient and understanding.

Three Days Ago

He stared at the ceiling as his wife did what she wanted.

Because a good husband should always be physically intimate with his wife.

Now

With his suitcases all packed and ready to go, he flips off his ex-wife, grabs his things, and marches out the door with a big smile on his face.

Because a good husband knows his self-worth.

*****

"How To Be A Good Wife?" by Dharrsheena Raja Segarran kept reminding me of an old game, so I finally wrote a mini story for said game while lowkey using the formatting style of my homegirl. Put some respect on her name.

Some of the script is from the game itself.