Here’s a 500-word version of the story:
After 23 Years of Marriage, Wife Asks Husband on a Date and Learns He Is Ashamed of Her
Mary had always been devoted to her husband, Tom. For 23 years, she supported him through every struggle, raised their two children, and ensured their home was warm and welcoming. But lately, she had noticed something was off. Tom barely looked at her, avoided conversations, and never wanted to go out together.
Determined to rekindle their spark, Mary did something she hadn’t done in years—she asked Tom on a date. “Let’s go to that new restaurant downtown this Friday,” she suggested excitedly. Tom hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mary.”
“Why not?” she asked, confused.
Tom rubbed his temples. “I just… I don’t want to go out like that.”
“Like what?” Mary pressed.
Tom looked away, his face tense. “With you.”
His words hit Mary like a punch to the gut. “What do you mean?” she whispered.
Tom sighed. “Mary, you’ve let yourself go. You don’t dress up, you don’t exercise, and people will see us together and wonder how I ended up with… this.”
Tears welled up in Mary’s eyes. She had always put her family first, never thinking twice about skipping a salon appointment or gym session because there were groceries to buy, homework to check, and late-night worries about the bills.
That night, she cried herself to sleep. But by morning, the sadness turned into something else—determination.
Instead of wallowing, Mary decided to focus on herself. She started walking every morning, eating better, and making time for hobbies she had long abandoned. She went to the salon, updated her wardrobe, and began smiling more.
Tom barely noticed—until one evening, when Mary dressed in a stunning navy blue dress, her hair styled, her confidence glowing. “Where are you going?” he asked, eyes narrowing.
“Out,” she replied simply.
“With who?”
“A friend,” she said.
Tom frowned. He had never imagined Mary would move on without him. Suddenly, he felt uneasy. That night, he lay awake, realizing that the woman he once dismissed was the same woman who had loved him unconditionally. And he had pushed her away.
Days later, Tom tried to mend things. “Mary, I was wrong,” he admitted. “I was ashamed of you, but now I see—I should have been ashamed of myself.”
Mary studied him. “I spent years loving you, supporting you, and you threw me away like I was nothing. You were supposed to love me through every phase of life, just as I did for you.”
Tom hung his head. “I do love you, Mary.”
She sighed. “I love myself now, too.”
For the first time in years, Mary realized she didn’t need Tom’s approval to feel beautiful, worthy, or enough. Whether their marriage could be saved, she wasn’t sure. But one thing was clear—she would never let anyone make her feel small again.
And for the first time in a long time, Mary chose herself.
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