The Small Favors That Grew Into Something Bigger
It began so subtly that I barely noticed at first. Sarah would reach out with simple problems that seemed reasonable enough. Her internet connection stopped working, and she wondered if my husband could stop by to troubleshoot it. He had always been handy with technology, so it seemed like a natural ask. I told myself it was just a one-time favor between two people who had once shared a life together.
Then her car refused to start one morning. She remembered how skilled he had always been with mechanical issues, so she called him for assistance. Again, he agreed without hesitation. I watched him grab his tools and head out the door, assuring me he would return quickly.
But the requests kept coming, each one finding its way into our daily routine. She needed a ride to the airport for an early morning flight. She wanted his opinion on a lease agreement before signing. She had heavy boxes that needed to be carried up several flights of stairs to her apartment. Every time her name appeared on his phone, I felt a small knot form in my stomach.
The late-night calls became particularly difficult to accept. Minor emergencies that somehow demanded immediate attention would pull him away from our evenings together. A strange noise in her apartment. A malfunctioning appliance. A confusing bill that needed reviewing right away.
And every single time, without fail, he said yes.
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