Our Anniversary Ends with an End

Yohann and I have been together since our second year of university. When we graduated, while many of our friends were pursuing stable careers, Yohann had a different plan—he wanted to start his own business.

I could have followed my parents' wishes and returned home to take the civil service exam, but I didn't. Instead, I chose to stay by his side, determined to build a future together. It felt like the right thing to do.

The early days were rough. We lived in a cramped basement, eating expired instant noodles that cost less than one dollar. Money was tight, and every day felt like a new challenge.

Yohann would push himself beyond his limits, attending endless business meetings and drinking so much that he ended up with stomach bleeding. Seeing him suffer like that broke my heart.

I couldn't stand by and watch him struggle any longer, so I used the savings I had built up over the years to help with our living expenses. I didn't want to see him wear himself out.

When Yohann found out, he was overwhelmed. His hands trembled as he embraced me tightly, whispering, "One day, I'll give you a good life, I promise."

But while I was focused on supporting Yohann, my mom couldn't stand the thought of me living this way. She called often, urging me to come back home. "If you marry and live far away, what will happen if you're mistreated?" she asked. "How can your father and I come to your side in time?"

At that time, I believed in the future Yohann and I were building, no matter how tough the present felt.

Not long after, Zandria returned from her time abroad, and everything changed.

Yohann's attention shifted away from me. He started signing up for all sorts of extreme activities, spending more and more time with her. They would go on adventures I could never even dream of trying.

Looking back now, I see how naive I was.

I closed Facebook, feeling drained, and decided to discharge myself from the hospital. When I finally got home, tired from it all, I slipped off my shoes just as Yohann walked out of the room. His eyes widened in surprise, but his expression quickly returned to indifference.

"You're back," he said, his tone flat.

I nodded, keeping my response short. "Mm."

Silence settled between us, heavy and uncomfortable. After a moment, his frown deepened as he broke the quiet. "Ysha, don't you have anything to say to me?"

I was exhausted. I hadn't slept well in the hospital, and now, standing in the comfort of my own home, all I wanted was to rest. I frowned, my patience wearing thin. "I'm exhausted right now. I want to lie down. Can we talk later?"

At my words, Yohann's face darkened with frustration. "What kind of attitude is that?" he snapped. "This trip was ruined because of your cowardice. We missed out on so many activities because of you. Don't you think you owe us an apology?"

His words struck a nerve, and anger flared inside me.

"I never agreed to do those extreme activities," I shot back. "You wanted to do them, so go ahead. I didn't stop you!"

He opened his mouth to argue but then paused, his expression softening slightly. "I just wanted to help you build some courage," he said, his tone resigned. "You're scared of thunderstorms, Ysha. What will you do when I'm not around?"

Before, I might have taken those words as a sign that he cared for me. Now, they felt different.

It all felt ironic now.

The truth was, he never really thought about me—he was always thinking of himself. Not once did he ask me what kind of person I wanted to become. Instead, he was too busy trying to shape me into the person he envisioned.

I was a humanities major in college, studying education. Yet, Yohann expected me to handle things like fixing the plumbing or electrical issues around the house. He even had me install new ceiling lights. He would guide me through my struggle, one step at a time.

Whenever something broke in the house, I was expected to fix it. He always said that women should learn to be independent and not rely on men for everything. So, most of the time, I just ended up figuring things out on my own.

For a while, I thought that's what relationships were about—learning from each other and growing together. But now, when I looked back, I felt a deep sense of absurdity.

I turned to him, trying to stay calm, and asked, "If something goes wrong, I can call the police, the fire department, or my parents. Why should I only rely on you?"

"Or do you think you're more capable than any?"

Yohann's face flushed with anger. "That's just ridiculous! Do you really think someone will always be there to help you when something happens? Your family spoils you, and that's why you've developed such naive ideas!"

He breathed, then continued, "Have you forgotten the struggles I went through when I started my business? I'm teaching you how to deal with the real world!"