A few weeks later, on an ordinary Wednesday night in November, I was making soup.
Chicken noodle. From scratch. The same recipe.
Right as it was finishing, Noah came running into the kitchen with his hands covered in glitter glue from a craft project. Purple glitter all the way up to his elbows.
“Mama! I’m stuck!”
I turned off the burner. I left the pot of soup sitting on the stove. And I took him down the hall to the bathroom to scrub his hands.
It took a while. Glitter glue is relentless.
When we came back into the kitchen, Mark was home from work.
He’d ladled the soup into three bowls. With the ladle. And set them on the table. And put the ladle back on the spoon rest.
He slid my bowl across the table to me.
I sat down. I picked up my spoon.
And I ate.
I didn’t check the pot.
It took me a minute to even realize that I hadn’t.
Six weeks of guarding my own stove. Smelling sauces. Watching spoons. Hiding Tupperware behind the milk.
And now, I didn’t even think about it.
We never did make it to Hocking Hills that November.
But on our tenth anniversary, Mark took the day off. He dropped Noah at Little Sprouts in the morning and came home with two coffees and a bag of donuts.
And we spent the whole day together. Just the two of us. In our own house.
Our own kitchen.
Our own couch, with every single cushion right where it belonged.
That night, after we put Noah to bed, I went into our bedroom closet to hang up my sweater.
The little dollar store calendar was still hanging on the back of the door. Every day of those six weeks crossed off in red pen.
I took it down.
I was going to throw it away.
But I didn’t.
I folded it in half and put it in the drawer of my nightstand.
Not because I wanted to remember being angry.
Because I wanted to remember the day my husband walked across the kitchen and handed me his phone.
And asked me first.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.