She gave me a gift—thirty years of her soul, poured out in poetry and stories. It was raw, brave, and vulnerable. But all I could see was the danger it brought: the cracks where our private lives might spill into the world, open for judgment and harm.

I wanted to protect her, to shield her from the world's cruelty. She wanted to be seen, to share her truth with a courage that took my breath away.

When I asked her to take it down, I thought I was keeping us safe. But in her eyes, I saw the fire extinguish. What I meant as love, she heard as silence.

Now, in this too-small town, I wrestle with the words she needs to hear: I see you. I love you. I want to protect you… but I won’t hide you.

Marriage is often depicted as a never-ending fairytale, but the truth is that it’s much more complex. Love isn’t always consistent, and there are times when it feels like everything but love exists between you and your spouse. The key to navigating these moments is remembering that commitment isn’t about avoiding the hard parts—it's about moving through them together, side by side. There will be days when the bond feels stretched thin, when the connection seems lost, but as you look back over the years, you’ll see that it was these very challenges that strengthened you both.

I’ve been there. 30+ years of marriage, children, loss, and illness—it’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Hang in there. The storm will pass, and on the other side, there’s peace. Always remember: you are human, and that’s enough.