Three years of marriage and every night, his wife wondered why he would leave her side to sleep in his mothers room. One night, she followed himand discovered a truth that left her breathless.
Emily and Thomas had been married for three years. Outwardly, they seemed the perfect couple. Thomas was thoughtful, hardworking, and gentle. Yet, there was one thing that troubled Emily deeply: her husbands peculiar nightly routine.
Without fail, sometime between midnight and one in the morning, Thomas would quietly slip out of bed. He would gently ease himself free of Emilys arms and leave their room, heading directly to his mothers bedroom. Mrs. Rose, as she was known, lived with them, and Thomas never returned until dawn.
In their first year together, Emily tried to understand it.
My mum struggles with sleep, Thomas would explain. She gets scared at night and needs company.
But as the second year passed, Emilys uncertainty grew.
Was he too attached to his mother? Was he, after all, a mummys boy?
By their third year, jealousy and suspicion consumed her. It felt as though there were three people in their marriage, that Thomas cared for his mother more than for her.
Why do you always sleep there? she confronted him one night. Im your wife. You should be next to me. What are you doing in there, chatting all night until morning?
Emily, please try to understand, Thomas replied wearily, dark circles under his eyes. My mums unwell. She needs me at night.
Unwell? She seems perfectly fine to me each morningeating breakfast, watching the telly… That just sounds like an excuse to avoid me!
Thomas didnt respond. He just bowed his head and quietly slipped from the room.
Blinded by anger and suspicion, Emily made up her mind. She would follow him. She needed to find out the truth for herself.
Midnight arrived.
As always, Thomas got out of bed quietly, thinking Emily was fast asleep. But she was wide awake, watching him slink away in the dark.
She waited five minutes, then followed barefoot, careful not to make a sound.
Emily stopped at Mrs. Roses door, which was left ajar.
She peered inside.
Emily was ready to shout, ready to accuse them both.
But what she saw made her heart pound in her chest.
Under the soft light of a bedside lamp, Mrs. Rosewho by day appeared calm and pleasantwas bound loosely to the bed with strips of fabric. She writhed frantically, eyes wide and shining, sweat pouring down her brow, foam collecting at her lips.
Get away from me! Dont hurt my boydont kill my Thomas! she screamed in a hoarse, fading voice.
Thomas gripped her arms tightly, trying to stop her from hurting herself. His forearms were covered in bite marks, scratches, bruises.
Shh, Mum Im right here. Its Thomas. Youre safe, he whispered, gently stroking her back.
No! You cant be Thomas. Thomas is dead, they killed him! she yelled, sinking her teeth into his shoulder.
Thomas closed his eyes in pain but didnt let go. He did not get angry.
Emily watched as tears streamed down her husbands face while he bore his mothers pain in silence.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Rose vomited all over Thomass shirt. The sour smell drifted all the way to the door, but instead of recoiling, Thomas grabbed an old cloth and gently cleaned his mums face, then wiped down his own shirt. Next, he changed her adult nappy.
Emilys legs shook so badly she had to steady herself with the doorframe.
After almost an hour, Mrs. Rose grew still, clarity flickering in her eyes.
Th-Thomas? she asked in a faint, trembling voice.
Yes, Mum. Its me.
She reached up, touching her sons face, noticing his wounds.
Son did I hurt you again? Im sorry I didnt mean to she sobbed. Go back to Emily, love. Dont neglect her on my account.
Thomas shook his head as he tucked in her blanket.
No, Mum. Ill stay. I dont want Emily to see you like this, or to get frightened, or have to clean up. Im your son; this is for me to handle. Let her sleep peacefully.
But love you must be so tired
I can manage, Mum. I love you both. Ill keep you safeEmily by day, and you by night.
It was then that Emily broke.
She pushed the door open fully and came in.
Emily? Thomas started, awkwardly trying to hide the stains on his shirt, What are you doing here? Go back to bedits a mess in here
Emily didnt say a word. She knelt down, wrapped her arms around Thomass waist, and burst into tears.
Im sorry she sobbed. Forgive me, Thomas. I thought the worst of you and youve been carrying all of this alone
Emily turned to Mrs. Rose, who now looked at her with shame-filled eyes.
Mum Emily said, taking her hand, Why didnt you tell me? You have dementia, and the sundowning syndrome, dont you? The nights are far harder, arent they?
We didnt want to trouble you, love, replied the old woman. We know how hard you work all day. I never meant to be a burden.
You arent, Emily said firmly.
She stood, went to fetch warm water and a clean towel. She gently wiped the filth from Thomass arms and her mother-in-laws face.
Thomas, she said as she cleaned him, three years youve borne this by yourself. From now on, therell be two of us. Im your wife, for better or for worse and that means looking after Mum, too.
But, Emily
No buts. Well take turns, or find a carer if we must. But youll never do this alone again.
Thomas embraced her. For the first time in years, he felt reliefa weight lifted that hed carried far too long.
From then on, Mrs. Roses illness was no longer a secret. Together, they faced it. Emily learned that real love isnt only measured in sweet moments, but in showing up for each other through the darkest, hardest parts of life.
The jealousy faded.
All that remained was respect,
and a deeper love for a man willing to sacrifice his own comfortand endure painto protect the women he loved.
