It was a quiet evening when Mark sent the text to his wife, Emily. He had been working late for the past few weeks, and tonight was no different. His message was simple, practical—something he hoped she would read without much thought. He had a lot on his mind, and his exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

“Hi, I will get late, please try and wash all my dirty clothes, and make sure you prepare my favorite dish before I return,” he typed, almost absentmindedly. Mark knew his wife loved to cook, and his favorite dish, chicken Alfredo, was one of the few things that always managed to bring a smile to his face after a long day. The clothes weren’t a big deal to him; she always took care of them. It wasn’t unusual for him to ask for her help, but he couldn’t remember the last time he had given her any assistance in return. He sighed, wondering if that was something he should address.

There was no reply. Emily was often busy, and Mark didn’t think too much of it. He set his phone down and tried to focus on work. Minutes passed, but his thoughts kept drifting back to his wife. Had she seen his message? Was she upset? He didn’t know.

Slightly frustrated but still hopeful, Mark typed another message a few minutes later. He thought this one might get her attention.

“And I forgot to tell you that I got an increase in my salary. At the end of the month, I’m getting you a new car.”

He smiled to himself as he imagined her reaction. Emily had been talking about wanting a new car for months, but they had always been putting it off. Now, thanks to his promotion, it seemed like the perfect time to make that dream a reality for her. He hoped she would be as excited as he was, but again, there was nothing—no reply.

Minutes turned into an hour, and still nothing. Mark’s excitement started to turn into concern. Why wasn’t she responding? It wasn’t like her to leave him hanging, especially when he was so eager to share something positive. He knew that if Emily were awake, she would usually send a message back. Maybe she was busy. Or perhaps she was tired from her day.

He decided to call her, his hand hovering over the phone. But then, before he could hit the call button, a notification popped up on his screen. Finally! A message from Emily.

Mark quickly opened it, expecting an enthusiastic response, but what he read left him speechless.

“Sure, I’ll do that. By the way, I’ve already packed your favorite dish in the fridge and washed your clothes. But… about the car… I thought we were saving up for something else?”

Mark froze, the words blurring as he tried to process the message. Was that it? Was she really not excited about the car? The one thing he thought would make her happy after all their struggles, the thing he was so proud of, was met with indifference?

He reread her message. It didn’t sound upset—just matter-of-fact. Emily had already taken care of his chores, as usual, without complaining. She was thoughtful, practical, and responsible. But the line about the car caught him off guard. Was she disappointed with his decision?

He sat there, staring at the phone, conflicted. How could he have been so caught up in his promotion that he hadn’t thought of the bigger picture? They had been planning to save for their future, not for luxuries. He realized, in that moment, that while he had been focused on his own success, he hadn’t paid enough attention to what Emily truly wanted. It was a stark reminder of how easily he had been taking her for granted.

Mark decided to call her, but this time, it wasn’t to share the excitement of the car. He needed to listen, to understand what was really important to her.

Emily picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, Mark,” she said softly, her voice calm but slightly distant.

“Hey, I… I got your message,” Mark said, his voice faltering. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think to ask you how you felt about the car or about anything. I’ve been so wrapped up in work that I haven’t been there for you.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then, Emily spoke.

“Mark, I appreciate the thought, I really do. But I’m just not sure if a car is the right thing right now. Maybe we should talk about our goals and what really matters. It’s not about the car; it’s about us.”

Mark’s heart sank as he realized how out of touch he had been. He hadn’t seen the bigger picture—he had been chasing the wrong things.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve been selfish, haven’t I?”

Emily sighed. “It’s not about being selfish. We just need to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Mark nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Let’s talk when I get home. I love you.”

“I love you too.”