Chloe had always been a wild child. In a fit of teenage rebellion against her parents, she decided to get married the moment she turned eighteen. Her chosen one, Jason, was ten years her senior. Her parents were vehemently against the marriage, doing everything in their power to talk her out of such a reckless move, but she wouldn’t budge. She packed her bags and walked out.
Jason and Chloe moved in together and started their new life. Between her heavy course load as an Education major and her desire to actually make something of herself, Chloe rarely had time for housework. Cooking and cleaning often fell by the wayside.
— The fridge is empty again, Jason grumbled, slamming the freezer door loud enough for the whole apartment to hear.
— I ordered takeout, Chloe replied without looking up.
She was buried in a child psychology textbook, trying to memorize a dozen theories for her final the next morning.
— I asked you, Jason started, his voice dripping with forced patience. — Please, have dinner ready when I get home. Is that really too much to ask?
— I’m studying, his wife said, finally meeting his eyes.
— You’ve been home all week. You couldn’t have studied then?
— I was studying then, too. And I’m studying now.
— Chloe, I don’t want to pick a fight over nothing, but I can’t live on cheap lo mein forever!
He slammed his hand onto the desk where she was sitting.
— Sorry. It’s been a long week. I didn’t mean to snap.
— It’s fine, Chloe said uncertainly. — I get it. And if it makes you feel better, I didn’t order Chinese. I got a full pot roast dinner from the bistro down the street.
— Great, Jason sighed.
— I’ll cook something tomorrow. After my exam.
— Fine. Deal.
He kissed the top of her head and headed for the shower.
Chloe stayed up all night with her books. Jason had to be at the office by eight to report to his boss. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was time to wake him; he had an hour-long commute and needed at least a cup of coffee.
She felt a pang of guilt for not cooking lately, especially since he’d been asking. She quickly made four slices of toast, brewed a fresh pot of coffee, and fried some eggs. Proud of herself, she walked toward the bedroom to wake him.
— I told her, she heard his muffled voice from behind the door.
Chloe froze. He was clearly talking about a woman, and unless Jason was having an affair, that woman was her.
— No, Mom, listen. I know she has finals, but is it really that hard to boil some pasta or sear a steak? I’m not asking for a miracle. And the house is a mess… Look, Mom, I’ll call you later. I need to get to the office.
Chloe backed away quickly and retreated to the kitchen. He was complaining to his mother about her being a “bad housewife.” Tears of frustration stung her throat, but she forced them back. She couldn’t afford a breakdown right before her exam; her personal life was already a mess, she wasn’t going to let her grades follow suit.
Jason opened the bedroom door and headed straight for the exit, bypassing the kitchen. Chloe turned at the sound of his footsteps and decided to try one last time.
— Are you leaving already? she asked.
— Yeah, I told you last night, Jason said, tying the laces on his perfectly polished Oxfords.
Pedant, Chloe thought with a sudden flash of resentment.
— Don’t you want breakfast? I made eggs and toast. There’s fresh coffee.
Jason looked up, surprised.
— Oh. Wow. See? You can do it when you want to, he smirked. — No, thanks, though. I’m in a huge rush.
— Fine, Chloe shrugged. — See you tonight?
— See you tonight.
Jason grabbed his leather briefcase and walked out.
Chloe watched him from the window with a fake smile until his car pulled out of the driveway. Then, she walked back into the kitchen and looked at the cold breakfast. In a sudden burst of rage, she screamed and swept everything off the table with both hands.
The crash of breaking porcelain echoed her scream, which dissolved into jagged sobs. She slid down the wall and curled up on the floor, clutching her throbbing head. Her face burned, and the tears wouldn’t stop.
After a while, the storm passed. She stared blankly at the puddle of coffee and the shattered eggs. I should clean that up, she thought distantly.
She stood up, gathered the shards, and wiped the floor. Then, as if nothing had happened, she headed to campus. She couldn’t afford these emotional swings. She was going to be a teacher, after all; this kind of behavior was unacceptable.
The “adventure” was over; it was time for real life. She had a husband, she’d graduate soon, get a job, and maybe they’d have kids. Everything would be fine. Just like everyone else.
Chloe aced her exam. Afterward, she decided to treat Jason to a nice dinner to make up for things. A year ago, the “old” Chloe wouldn’t have felt guilty; she would have packed a bag or started a screaming match.
But that was in the past. She had a marriage to maintain. She picked out the best ingredients at the grocery store and lugged them home. She was exhausted and desperate for a nap, but she was determined to make this dinner perfect.
She managed to finish the cooking and lay down for just an hour. She had forgotten to lock the deadbolt, so Jason had to ring the bell when he got home. Chloe scrambled up and met him at the door with a smile.
— Were you sleeping? Jason asked, surprised.
— Just for a bit. I pulled an all-nighter, she said, rubbing her eyes.
— Oh. Well, go back to bed. I’m going to shower and join you, he said flatly.
— Aren’t you hungry?
— I grabbed a bite at a cafe on the way home. Did you eat?
Chloe realized she hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day. Her stomach gave a loud, treacherous growl.
— Honestly, I missed breakfast and lunch, she smiled. — But I made a surprise dinner. I forgot to tell you not to eat out. Come on.
— What’s the occasion? Jason asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
He followed her into the kitchen and stared at the spread of pots and pans.
— Wow. You made all this?
— Of course, she smiled again. — I’m sorry I haven’t been around much. I hope it’s not too late to make it up to you?
— Are you kidding? That cafe sandwich was terrible. Let’s eat like normal people. I love you, babe.
He pulled her in and kissed her head.
Dinner was filled with awkward silences. Jason asked about her finals; she asked about his meetings. Then, they ran out of things to say. Chloe felt a knot of discomfort. It shouldn’t be this hard. Even her parents, whom she’d spent years fighting with, always found things to talk about at dinner.
— Is it good? she asked, her tired brain unable to produce anything better.
— Yeah, you did a good job. Just… next time, don’t hold back on the salt. And maybe use a little less oil.
Chloe’s eye twitched.
Even now, he had to find a flaw. She was running on zero sleep and raw nerves; it only took one spark to set her off.
— Fine, she said slowly. She stood up and walked to the small bar cart in the corner.
— Something wrong, honey? Jason asked.
— Oh, yeah. Everything!
She ripped the cork out of a wine bottle, not caring where it landed.
— Everything is wrong with me!
— What are you talking about? What did I even say?
— If it’s so important that I cook that you have to cry to your mother about it, then the least you can do is not critique the amount of oil I use!
Tears started rolling again. Chloe wiped them away with her sleeve and took a long swig directly from the bottle.
— And this is how you solve problems? “Housewife” drinking? Jason clenched his jaw, trying to stay composed.
— It’s for my nerves, she snapped.
— Right. And you were eavesdropping, by the way.
— You were complaining loud enough that I thought you were talking to a mistress!
— Enough!
Jason slammed his fist on the table, making the plates rattle.
— Put the bottle down.
— And if I don’t? What are you going to do? Show me how you solve problems!
Chloe was hysterical, but she never expected Jason to move so fast. He was across the room in a second. He wrenched the bottle from her hand and, with his free palm, slapped her across the face.
The shock stifled her scream. The tears stopped instantly. She couldn’t process what had just happened.
— You forced my hand, Jason sighed. — I’m sorry, but it was for your own good. From now on, you aren’t making any decisions in this house. Not until you grow up and learn to keep your cool. Maybe you need some anger management or a therapist…
— Are you insane? Chloe whispered.
The slap hadn’t been hard enough to bruise, but the reality of it hit like a sledgehammer.
— You hit me… You are the one who needs anger management!
— That’s enough, Jason cut her off. — Go take a shower and go to bed. You’re exhausted.
— You’re a monster… she hissed, though she knew she did need to sleep. Jason pretended he didn’t hear her.
Time passed. Jason’s constant nitpicking drove Chloe to the edge of madness. There was always something: the dinner was wrong, she didn’t call after class, she stayed out too late with friends. She realized he was trying to control every square inch of her life.
Talking did nothing. Slowly, she began to submit to his will just to avoid the tension.
Jason had a corporate holiday party coming up. Spouses were expected, which meant Chloe had to endure a long lecture on how to dress, how to act, and what to say. Jason was terrified she would “embarrass” him.
— If you’re so worried I’ll mess up, maybe I shouldn’t go at all? she noted dryly.
— Oh, come on, don’t be like that. You won’t embarrass me, Jason smiled, pulling her into a hug. — Because we’ve talked about everything, right?
A cold shiver ran down her spine. In that moment, she realized with absolute clarity that there was something fundamentally broken in her marriage—and for once, it wasn’t her fault.
The party went fine. The guests were polite, the small talk was mindless. Chloe stayed in the shadows, terrified of saying the wrong thing or having one drink too many.
Jason, however, decided to let loose. By the end of the night, his colleagues had to help him into a cab. Chloe thanked them, making excuses about him not eating enough, and they headed home.
He fell asleep on the way. It took every ounce of her strength to drag him from the car into the house. She was physically spent, so she left him sprawled on the sofa and went to the bedroom.
She felt hollow. Jason didn’t take her seriously. They were supposed to be partners, but he treated her like a project to be managed, all while losing control of himself.
She couldn’t sleep. For the first time in two years, she wanted to call home. She wanted her mother. But it was too late. I’ll call this weekend, she promised herself before drifting into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Jason’s groaning woke her. He had a massive hangover and was rummaging through the medicine cabinet.
— Looking for aspirin? Chloe asked.
— Yeah, that’d be a start. I really tied one on last night, huh?
He sighed, leaving her to find the pills.
— How did we even get home?
— You don’t remember? she smirked. — We took a cab. Your coworkers had to carry you to the car, and then I had to drag you to the couch.
— Wait, what?
His eyes flashed with something dark.
Chloe put the first aid kit back and tried to stay calm as she reached for a glass of water.
— What do you mean? she asked.
— My colleagues had to carry me? And then you just… left me on the couch?
His nostrils flared with rage.
— Jason, you were dead weight! I was exhausted! I’m sorry I couldn’t carry a grown man to the bedroom by myself!
— Chloe, that is unacceptable.
He took a slow, threatening step toward her.
She didn’t wait to see what he’d do. She splashed the glass of water directly into his face, ducked around the table, and bolted out the door, grabbing only her phone.
She ran for blocks, turning down random side streets until she was far from the apartment.
Technically, it was his apartment. He never let her forget it. The pieces were finally clicking together. Jason hadn’t “rescued” her from her parents; he had just put her on a shorter leash. Her parents had been strict because they cared; Jason was just a tyrant.
She wanted to cry, but she stopped herself. She needed to get away, and she didn’t know what he was capable of. she checked her banking app. Jason controlled most of the money, but she had a couple of hundred dollars in her personal account—enough for a long Uber ride.
She was glad she’d never agreed to a joint account; he would have seen the transaction immediately. She called a car and gave her parents’ address. She had nowhere else to go. The terrifying thought hit her that Jason knew that too, and might already be there. But as the car pulled up, his vehicle was nowhere in sight.
Her heart pounded. Their last conversation had been a screaming match two years ago. But she took a breath and rang the bell.
Her mother opened the door. She looked frozen, seeing her daughter for the first time in years, standing there in pajamas and slippers.
— Chloe?
— Mom…
Chloe’s lip trembled. She couldn’t move.
Her mother didn’t need an explanation. She stepped out, pulled Chloe into the house, and wrapped her in a hug. Chloe finally broke. She had been so selfish, so sure she knew everything, and yet, the moment she was in trouble, she was welcomed back.
— I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry…
— It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. Come inside.
Chloe sobbed harder. She thought about all the times her mom had bailed her out of trouble as a teenager, all the grey hair she’d caused. And yet, here she was.
— How can it be okay? she choked out as her mom locked the door behind them.
— You’re my daughter. I’m never letting you go again.
They sat in the kitchen for twenty minutes until Chloe calmed down. Her mom made tea and brought out every snack in the pantry. They weren’t rich, but they always had enough for her.
— What happened? her mother asked gently.
Chloe looked around the kitchen. For the first time, she understood what the word “home” actually meant.
— You and Dad were right. About everything, she whispered. — I rushed into it. I should have listened… God, if I could just go back…
— Shh, her mother patted her hand. — We can’t go back. But we can start from here.
— Thank you for letting me in.
— Stop it, her mother smiled, refilling her cup.
She could see the fear in Chloe’s eyes. She knew her daughter had fled from something terrible.
— We went to his office party last night, Chloe began. — Jason got wasted. I had to ask his coworkers to help him. When we got home, I couldn’t get him to the bed, so I left him on the sofa. This morning, he woke up and realized he’d blacked out. When I told him what happened, he… he went into this blind rage.
— Did he hit you? her mother asked, her voice turning to stone.
— No, no! Not this morning.
Except for that one time, Chloe added silently to herself.
— Thank God.
— He just started coming at me… I got scared, threw some water on him, and ran. That’s it.
— Oh, honey…
Her mother shook her head.
— You can’t go back to a man like that.
— I know, Mom. I know. I was so stupid to marry him.
— We all make mistakes. At least you’re safe.
— Mom… how do I get a divorce? I can’t live like that anymore.
— I think it’s best if we handle that from a distance, her mother said with a determined smile.
— There’s more, Chloe admitted, staring into her tea. — I realized today that he’s a controller. A tyrant. Everything I did was wrong. The soup was bad, the floors were dirty… he told his mother everything. A thirty-year-old man complaining to his mommy about his teenage wife. And I felt so ashamed. I really thought I was the problem.
— I know it’s hard, her mother said, taking her hand. — But you’re smart, and you’re beautiful. I’ll teach you everything you need to know. And when you find a real man, he’ll cherish you.
Chloe managed a small smile. Her mom always knew what to say. Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Jason.
— Is that him? her mother asked.
— Yeah. I’ve got this.
Chloe saw her mom reach for the phone, but she pulled it back. She had to do this herself.
— Hello?
— Where are you?! Jason hissed. — Get home right now. I just want to talk. I won’t touch you.
— No. I’m filing for divorce, Chloe said firmly.
She hung up before he could respond. Her mother nodded in approval. Jason tried calling a few more times, so Chloe turned the phone off. A minute later, her mother’s phone rang. It was Mrs. Miller—Chloe’s mother. She answered calmly.
— Hello, Jason?
— Yes, hi. I’m looking for Chloe. She ran off. Is she there?
— She is, the older woman said coolly.
— Good. I’m coming over to pick her up.
— You aren’t going anywhere, and you aren’t picking up anyone.
— Excuse me?
Jason sounded genuinely stunned. He clearly thought Chloe’s parents had washed their hands of her.
— My daughter told me everything. And from what I’m hearing, you think you own her. You’ll hear from our lawyer regarding the divorce. If you come within a mile of this house, I’m calling the police.
She hung up and pulled Chloe into another hug.
Later that night, Chloe’s father arrived home and agreed with everything. They divorced through the courts and only saw each other once to sign the final papers. Chloe didn’t regret it for a second.
The only thing she regretted was the time she had wasted away from the people who actually loved her. But now, they had all the time in the world to catch up.
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