**Diary Entry**
I glimpsed the messages on my daughters phone today, and suddenly, everything made sense. All those late nights, the strained silencesnow I understand why James has been so distant.
«I can’t take it anymore,» I muttered under my breath, slamming the dishes into the sink. «Every evening, the same thing. He comes home, barely speaks, eats in silence, then locks himself away for hours. Its like living with a stranger!»
«Mum, calm down,» Sophie sighed, setting her phone aside. «Dads just going through a rough patch at work. You know how it is.»
«A rough patch?» I threw my hands up. «This patch has lasted three months! Your father used to talk to me, Sophie. Now? Its like theres a wall between us. And those hushed phone callswhats that about?»
Sophie shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering to her phone on the table. «Youre overreacting. Hes just tired.»
«Tired,» I echoed, scrubbing an already spotless pan. «He wasnt too tired for twenty-five years. Now, suddenly, he cant even look me in the eye?»
Sophie sighed and slipped away to her room, leaving me standing there, my stomach twisting. Something was wrong with my husband, with our family. Jamesalways so warm, so presenthad become a ghost in our home. Was it another woman? No, not James. But thenwhat?
That evening, when he finally came home, he barely glanced at me. «Late again,» I said, forcing a smile that didnt reach my eyes. «Hungry?»
«Not really,» he mumbled. «Sophie home?»
«In her room.» I hesitated. «James can we talk?»
«About what?» His eyes flickered to mineexhausted, yes, but also afraid?
«Us. Whatevers going on with you. Youve shut me out.»
«Not tonight, love,» he said softly, squeezing my shoulder before heading to Sophies room. I stood frozen in the hallway, dread coiling inside me.
I barely slept that night. James lay beside me, his back turned, breathing steadilybut I knew he wasnt asleep. Whatever he was hiding, it was eating him alive.
The next morning, after he left for work, I busied myself cleaning. Sophie was still asleeplate lectures at uniso I tidied her room on autopilot. Thats when I saw it: her phone, left charging, screen lit with an open chat.
I shouldnt have looked. But the message glared at me: *»Dad, you have to tell Mum. She deserves to know.»*
My hands shook as I scrolled up.
**James:** *»Sophie, I cant. She only just recovered after your grandmas stroke.»*
**Sophie:** *»But this is different! The doctors said the odds are good!»*
**James:** *»Doesnt matter. Chemo, surgeryshell worry herself sick.»*
Chemo. Surgery. The words blurred. My legs gave way, and I sank onto Sophies bed.
The door creaked open. Sophie froze when she saw me, her face draining of colour. «Mumyou read my messages?»
«Sophie,» I whispered. «Whats wrong with your father?»
She hesitated, then sat beside me, voice trembling. «He didnt want you to know. Not until the biopsy results came back.»
My world tilted. Three months. Three months of tests, of pain, of him carrying this alone.
That evening, I set the table properly for onceroast beef, his favourite. James eyed me warily as he sat down. «Special occasion?»
«No,» I said softly. «Just realised something important today.»
«Oh?» He took a sip of wine, watching me.
«That twenty-five years is too long to play games,» I met his gaze. «Im coming with you to the hospital tomorrow.»
The glass slipped in his hand, wine spilling onto the tablecloth.
«You» His eyes darted to Sophie.
«I didnt tell her!» Sophie blurted. «She saw the texts when she was cleaning.»
James exhaled, shoulders sagging. «I just didnt want you to worry. Not after everything with your mum.»
I reached for his hand. «I was already worrying. Id rather worry *with* you.»
The relief in his eyes broke my heart.
The biopsy came back benign. Just surgery, no chemo. When the doctor told us, James leaned against the wall, covering his facechoked sobs shaking his shoulders.
«Forgive me,» he whispered later. «For shutting you out.»
I wiped his tears. «Were here now. Thats all that matters.»
Sophie hugged us both, laughing through her own tears.
Sometimes, you have to look where you shouldntjust to save what you love most.
