Although he works five days a week,

My husband works five days a week but only showers on weekends. I told him he smelled bad, but he shrugged it off, saying he was too tired. Despite my pleas and frustration, nothing changed. Every evening he’d come home sweaty and smelling of grease. One night, he came home late, acting nervous. I noticed a strange, sour stain on his shirt. When I asked, he blamed grease from work, but something felt off. The next day, I found him secretly washing the stained shirt, which he never usually did.

Curious, I went to his workplace and saw him get into a female coworker’s car. They stayed close, laughing and touching. I suspected the worst but didn’t confront him. Then one night, I heard him crying. He confessed the woman’s son had leukemia, and he’d been helping her with rides and overtime. The stain wasn’t grease—it was blood from her son’s nosebleed.

I realized I had judged him too harshly. We began to talk more openly, and slowly, my anger turned to understanding and support. Now he showers more often, and we share our struggles—because sometimes silence hides the heaviest pain.