Toxic Compassion

I dragged myself home, exhausted. I had barely opened the door when I saw Hannah lying in Wyatt's arms on the couch, the two of them laughing as they watched the television.

Hannah quickly pulled away from Wyatt when she heard the sound.

She looked at me with an annoyed look on her face. "So, you actually remembered to come home? Do you know Wyatt had to carry all the luggage because you didn't pick us up? He was exhausted. Can't you have a little more compassion?!"

I ignored her and calmly took off my shoes by the door, but that only made Hannah more irritated. She got up and walked toward me, but Wyatt quickly tried to calm her down. "Nathan was probably busy with work. He didn't mean it. Don't be mad, Hannah. I'm not tired. Oh, right. Nathan, Hannah and I brought you a gift."

He then walked over as if he was presenting me with a treasure and handed me a box. Inside was a scarf printed with some landmarks. It was made of cheap synthetic fabric, with rough threads sticking out along the edges.

The moment I saw it, my throat physically tightened. I was severely allergic to that kind of fabric. The last time I had accidentally touched it, I had been rushed straight to the emergency room. I yelled, "Take it away!"

When Wyatt heard that, he pushed the scarf even closer. "Nathan, I picked this out especially for you. Don't you like it?"

"I said take it away!" My breathing was already turning ragged.

"Nathan, what kind of attitude is that?!" Hannah snatched the box and shoved it into my arms. "Wyatt was kind enough to bring you a present. Who are you making that face for?!"

The synthetic fabric brushed my wrist, and a red rash broke out instantly. I immediately threw the box onto the floor.

Wyatt put on a hurt expression and said, "Even if you don't like it, you don't have to throw it away."

Hannah stared at me, barely holding back her anger. "Nathan! What gives you the right to throw Wyatt's gift away?! Apologize to him right now!"

But by then, I could not speak anymore. My throat had swollen to the point of being blocked as my vision began to blur. I staggered toward the living room, where I kept my allergy medicine. But after only two steps, Hannah grabbed my arm. "You're not walking away from this. Apologize to Wyatt."

"Medicine. Get my medicine..." I pointed at the drawer as it grew harder to breathe, and my chest was so tight it felt ready to collapse.

Hannah slapped my hand away. "Stop the act! I let it go last time when you faked being sick to lie to me, and now you're doing it again? I'm telling you, this trick won't work. Apologize to Wyatt right now!"

My vision had already started going black, and Hannah's scolding grew farther away.

Before I hit the floor, I saw Hannah rush toward me in a panic…

-

When I finally regained consciousness, Hannah was lying beside my bed, shadows under her eyes.

When she heard me move, she took my hand and said in a guilty tone, "I'm sorry, Nathan. I forgot you were allergic to the material that was used to make that fabric. I thought you were pretending to be sick again."

I found it so laughable.

During all our years of marriage, Hannah had always chosen my clothes carefully, worried she might accidentally buy something made from that material and trigger my allergy. But after Wyatt had lived in our home for only half a year, she was now telling me she had forgotten.

I sneered and pulled my hand back.

Hannah froze, then quickly frowned. "Do you have to act like this? Wyatt didn't do it on purpose. He never went to school. How was he supposed to know anything about allergies? How about this? To keep Wyatt from hurting you in the future, why don't you send him to school using that money? How does that sound?"