Erin and Mike’s marriage had always been a fairytale. After marrying at 20, they spent 56 years together, their love and romance the envy of everyone around them. But as they reached their 70s, something changed.
At 76, Mike, feeling the weight of age, told Erin that romance had become a one-sided effort, and he was no longer interested. His sudden withdrawal left Erin devastated.
One day, Erin confronted Mike. “Why don’t you bring me flowers anymore?” she asked, upset by his lack of affection. After years of romantic gestures, Mike’s response was blunt. “Erin, you’re not going to die if I don’t bring flowers every day,” he said, half-heartedly flipping through channels on the couch.
Erin was hurt. “But that’s not fair! You’ve stopped everything for a whole month. What’s going on? Are you having an affair? AT OUR AGE?” she demanded, hands on her hips.
Mike, frustrated, shot back, “It’s been decades since we married, and I’ve always been the one doing all the romantic work. I invite you on dates, buy you gifts, bring flowers. And now, when I take a break, suddenly I’m cheating?”
“I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND! DON’T YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE?” Erin cried.
Mike stood up, clearly upset. “Maybe I’m tired of being the only one who ever shows romance! For 56 years, I’ve done everything while you’ve given nothing back,” he said before walking out to cool down.
Left to reflect, Erin realized Mike had a point. She’d never made romantic gestures herself, assuming the man’s role was to keep the spark alive. She’d spent her time cooking, cleaning, and raising children, but now that the kids were gone, Mike had been carrying the burden of their romance. It wasn’t fair. Erin decided to change that.
When Mike returned, Erin invited him on a date, offering to pay. But Mike rejected the offer, not ready to accept her sudden change of heart. “I don’t want to do that right now,” he said, retreating to their room, barely speaking to her that night.
Though Erin tried again with little gestures, Mike became more distant, even frowning when she bought him flowers. “These are more for you, aren’t they?” he asked, unimpressed. “We’re too old for this now.”
Erin was hurt and confused. “I’m trying to give back what I haven’t in 56 years. Why can’t you accept it?” she argued, but Mike refused to budge.
“Because I don’t want this. I just want us to relax and stop trying so hard. We’ve had enough romance. It’s time to just… be,” Mike said, handing the flowers back and walking out for a smoke.
Erin, heartbroken, tried to adjust to this new reality. But things were different now. Mike no longer showed affection, and she found herself feeling shy around him—something she hadn’t felt in decades. After two months, Erin came to a difficult decision: she asked for a divorce.
Though shocked, Mike agreed to move out. Their son, Henry, took him in, though their two daughters, Alexandra and Marissa, were concerned. Erin was firm. “If the romance is over, there’s no reason to stay married,” she told them.
Not long after, Erin filed for divorce, and it was finalized. But then, Erin suffered a heart attack. Mike, hearing the news, rushed to her side at the hospital. When Erin was discharged, Mike stayed by her, helping her through recovery. Despite their divorce, he refused to leave her.
Henry, Marissa, and Alexandra saw through it. They knew their dad still loved Erin, and soon, the flowers and romantic gestures began again. As Erin recovered, she returned the love and effort, rekindling their romance.
A few months later, Erin and Mike remarried on what would have been their 58th anniversary, a testament to the enduring love that had withstood even the hardest of times.