Another Chance

Silent Struggles

Janet POV

"Darius I need your help with stuff around here." I explained.

"I am helping. What do you think I do all day? Sit on my ass?"

"I don't need the attitude. You're not helping me with the kids." 

"I do help!" He was getting heated with every word.

"Darius you playing with Eissa is not helping. He has homework that needs to be done. I'm the one going to the parent teacher conferences. Not you!"

"I have dance classes I teach. I have people who depend on me too."

"I have people who depend on me as well. I have a career where I employ a lot of people. You can't use that as an excuse. We need you here. You can't spend all day in class and come in here late."

"I don't spend all day in class Janet. That's not what's happening.

"You come in and get the kids riled up after I have them settled. Then you pass out."

"Look I don't know what you're talking about."

"You are not listening to me. I need help around here." I was getting more aggravated.

"I'll do more, but you don't have to nag me about it. Damn."

"Wow! You're an asshole Darius! That's your response. I'm nagging you now."

"Look J. I said I would help out. Let's leave it at that."

******

Janet and Darius sat on the couch, the evening light filtered through the curtains of their living room. Isabella, now four months, laid peacefully in her pack n play, occasionally stirring as she dreamt. It was a scene, one that would fill most couples with joy, yet there was a tension in the air that neither of them could ignore. Tension that had been under the surface for a while.

The remnants of a takeout dinner scattered on the coffee table. Janet was too tired to cook, which seemed to be the theme lately. It was also one of those rare moments where he was actually there. Of course it wasn't to help her out with the kids. It made her question his motives.

Reality had shifted her perspective. The joy of motherhood was intertwined with sleepless nights and endless responsibilities, leaving little room for intimacy. 

Darius, on the other hand, had anticipated a different kind of marital bliss. He had imagined weekends filled with spontaneous adventures, romantic dinners, and a passionate connection with Janet that would only deepen with the arrival of their child. 

It was anything but. By the time he would make it to the bedroom she would already be passed out. What he didn't know was that it wasn't a restful sleep. By the time he got into bed, she would wake up and be up for hours either because she couldn't go back to sleep or because Isabella would be crying for comfort or to breastfeed. 

He found himself spending more time outside of the house. He started teaching dance classes full time just to burn some energy. He also started working out more. Of course, nothing seemed to relieve that stress. 

Despite the quiet, Darius felt a storm brewing inside him. He glanced at Janet, who was scrolling through her phone, her brow furrowed as she read yet another article about parenting. The exhaustion was evident on her face, and the dark circles under her eyes told the story of sleepless nights spent tending to Isabella.

"Hey, babe," he began, attempting to find the right words. "Can we talk?"

She barely glanced at him. "What about?"
Everything about him irritated her lately. And it should not be that way.