That night, you came home late. Your body ached with exhaustion, your hair was a mess, and your eyes felt heavy. The office had felt like a battlefield today. And as you opened the front door, you braced yourself to find a messy kitchen, piles of laundry, and a chorus of complaints.

But instead, what greeted you was the aroma of roasted chicken from the kitchen, and the warm glow of soft lighting in a neatly set dining room.

You froze. There, your husband, Galen, stood wearing a grey apron with a small stain of sauce on one corner. He looked tired, but his smile was gentle and sincere.

“Welcome home, love,” he said with a slight shrug. “I cooked tonight. Please, have a seat. The dishes? Let’s leave them for tomorrow.”

You let out a soft laugh, your eyes brimming with tears. “Galen, aren’t you tired?”

“I am,” he replied lightly. “But I’d be more tired seeing you carry everything alone.”

All your life, you had grown up in an environment that constantly echoed the phrase, “A wife must be capable of doing everything.” Cooking, cleaning, raising children—perhaps even working if needed. But your husband was different. He never demanded anything labeled as “a woman’s duty.” All he ever wanted was a marriage where both could carry one another.

You still remember that night a few months ago, when a big argument broke out because of your own pride—your need to always appear perfect. You cried alone in the bathroom. The dishes were still dirty. Your child wasn’t yet asleep.

Galen knocked gently. “I don’t need a wife who’s strong every day. I need you. Even when you’re weak, lazy, and falling apart.”

That night, he held you on the bathroom floor, between sobs and the constant trickle of water from the tap.

Since then, things began to shift—slowly, quietly. There were no more rigid roles. Sometimes he swept the floor, sometimes you did. Sometimes the house stayed messy, and you both chose to watch a movie while slurping instant noodles.

Because love is not about splitting burdens evenly— It’s about being willing to carry them together, even before you’re asked.