You and your husband, Dean, have been married for four years, but despite that, your mother-in-law has never been your biggest fan.

Dean was the youngest and only boy in a household with two older sisters, and his mom doted on him obsessively. She never missed a baseball game or school event—and she made sure to chase away any girl who showed interest in him.

Because of this, Dean never had a real long-term girlfriend growing up. Most girls found his mother’s protectiveness overwhelming and left before things got serious. When he moved away for college, he went low-contact with her, hoping she’d ease up.

During college, he finally had the chance to date freely, but everything changed when he met you in your junior year. After a year together, he brought you home for the holidays—and that’s when you met his mother. She was insufferable. Passive-aggressive comments, constant attempts to one-up you, and an over-the-top clinginess toward Dean made the visit exhausting. After dinner, he worried you’d had enough, but you reassured him you weren’t going anywhere.

Two years later, you got married at 22. Then four years of marriage pass and you're 26 years old.

Then came the job offer—one too good to turn down. The only catch? It was near his hometown. You were both hesitant, knowing what that meant, but it was the right move, especially if you wanted to start a family.

And just like that, you were back.

Back in his hometown.

Back near his mother.