James walks into the kitchen. He finds his wife, Anna drinking coffee while looking at a newspaper

James

Could you pick my clothes up from the dry cleaners? I need them for tomorrow and have no clean clothes to wear for work.

Anna

I cannot make it. My shift won’t be over until 8.

James

At 8? Since when do you work this long? Can’t you give them an excuse and pick them? You know how busy i am at work.

Anna

James, we talked about this. Mum is in a nursing home right now. With her critical health, i need to cover the hospital bills. Because of her bad back, she needs a bed that can make her comfortable and makes her sleep better, but i cannot afford it. i need to save up for that as well. I cannot risk my job; otherwise, who will take care of her.

He turns his back towards her

James

Where is my coffee?

She sighs angrily

Anna

You can pour some for yourself. The coffee is right in front of you, and you know where the cups are. Must i do everything for you? I wash, i cook, and clean. My work is also demanding., especially now that i need to take extra shifts. I  am stretched too thin, and i am trying to hold it together.

James

I just wanted to drink coffee, not start an argument.

He walks to the refrigerator

James

There are no breakfast cereals and no milk.

Anna

I had no time to pick up the cereals. I will try to bring everything in the evening.

James

Are you kidding me? I even cannot eat breakfast in my own house? There’s nothing in the house to eat. No grocery or anything. I try my best to put food on the table. We have a great house. We have water and electricity. I even service and maintain our cars. And what do i get? You are too busy to collect my laundry, too busy to pick up groceries? And you say that you have to do everything? I provide for this house and ensure we have a comfortable life.  (he pauses) why is everything a battle with you nowadays? I cannot even hold a decent conversation with you.

He walks out, banging the door behind him. Anna is left with a disappointed look on her face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna is eating her lunch at work while in deep thought. Jessica, her friend, approaches her with a worried look. She sits on the chair opposite her friend.

Jessica

What’s up, girl? You are spaced out again. I am starting to worry about you. Is something wrong with your mum? Anything i can do to help?

Anna

No, nothing is wrong with mum. I spoke with the doctors. She is improving. The only matter of concern is that expensive bed that i should buy her. (She pauses) But that’s not what is troubling me the most

Jessica

Then what is it?

She rolls her eyes upwards

Anna

The same old story

Jessica

James? What happened this time?

Anna

I’ve just had it with him. I keep trying to make him understand my situation, but he seems oblivious to it all. He hasn’t commented on anything about my mother. All he does is complain about what i do not do in the house. i am emotionally drained because of so much stress, and i feel like he cannot see me. He prioritizes himself too much and doesn’t seem to care what i think or what i say.

After listening to Anna open up and handing her tissues as she cries, Jessica gives Anna a long hug then lets her go.

Jessica

Things will work out. Just hang in there. They say marriage has some trying phases, and this is one of them. As long as you both love each other, all will be well.

Anna

I do not think so. I don’t seem to get through to James.

Jessica

Do you think he still loves you?

Anna

I guess so.

Jessica

If that is the case, try to work things out on your end. Do not focus so much on what James doesn’t do. Just do the best you can on your own. You have to learn how to look at things with a grateful eye. It should not be about what he does not do for you but what he does. When you focus on what he does, you may be surprised at how much he does. His feeling like he is appreciated will help in appreciating you.

Anna takes deep breaths to calm herself.

Anna

Maybe you are right. I will give it a try.

James calls Simon, his best friend, aside and sat on a bench after his shift.

James

I wanted to talk to you about something.

Simon

What’s up?

James

In my observation, you and Jina seem to be doing well in your marriage. What’s the trick?

Simon

Jina and i have issues that we’ve moved past. In building something, the much you give is the much you get. I cannot say we are perfect, but we are in a good place. When challenges come, we are prepared to face them togeHaving issues at home?

James

Yes. She just constantly picks fights with me. She has a way of turning the conversation to make me look like the bad guy. She is always in a bad mood, and there’s nothing good she sees. I don’t know what she wants from me. i do everything for her, for us. But she doesn’t seem to see it. i don’t know what to do. I feel like we have suddenly become enemies who want nothing to do with each other.

Simon

Did you see her this morning?

James

Yes. And we argued even then.

Simon

What color was her dress this morning?

James

What?

Simon

I said, what color was her dress this morning?

James

I heard you. I just wondered why that has anything to do with what we’re talking about.

Simon laughs and throws his hands at the back of his head.

Simon

You don’t know, do you?

James

To be honest, i cannot remember.

Simon

One thing i realized in life is that three types of people in a marriage. One of them is an optimist. They focus so much on what is good and neglect what is bad. They strike so much to improve what they do well and ignore the rest. This does not work well in a marriage as there one has also to embrace it. The pessimist, on the other hand, focuses on what is wrong. He complains a lot about things that aren’t according to his liking. This aspect also does not work well in marriage, as complaints never solve anything. They make the circumstances worse. The realist is you answer my brother. The realist focuses on the situation on the ground and acts accordingly. If you notice your surrounding and adapt to it, you will have a successful marriage. The only question is if you still want to save your marriage.

James

Yes, of course! I want to save my marriage.

Simon

People grow and change as time progresses. It would be best to focus on who your wife is now and what she needs, not what you think she needs. You need to adjust and see what it is that you are missing. You need to remember the color of the dress she wears, meaning you need to pay more attention to your wife. Once you remove focus out of yourself, you will see the problem in your marriage and fix it.

 

 

 

James is getting inside. He finds his wife sitting in the dining room.

James

We need to talk…. or i need to tell you something.

Anna

That’s funny; i was about to say the same thing. (she paused) . You can say what you wanted first.

He sat down beside her and held her hand into his.

James

We have been having quarrels lately, and I wouldn’t say I like where it is heading. After a lot of thinking, i have realized that along the way, i stopped paying attention to you. I was so caught up with providing for us that i forgot the reason why i work so hard. I have just noticed how hard it is for you with the situation with mum. Frankly, i did not know it was that bad. I have been paying less attention, and i am sorry. I will do better. I will also help with mum. You need not worry about that. I will compensate and allow you more time.

Anna

I know i have complained so much about what you do not do that i neglect to see how hard you try. I haven’t said thank you as much as i should. Thank you for everything you are doing for us. You work so hard, and i do not appreciate the much you do. We will make it work.