A waiting man

"Shall we leave at 3 o'clock?"

I said this because I had a gathering to attend with my husband.

"Why leave so early? Do you want to wait around on the street? Let's leave at 3:30," he replied.

"Here you go again. All you'd have to do is say, 'Okay,' but you always twist things and make everything more complicated. Fine, let's each leave whenever we want and just meet at the gathering," I said.

I feel comfortable to go alone rather than listen to his constant negativity.

When we arrived at the gathering where we were invited, even before I could start chatting with my long-time friends, he started giving me signals to leave. At social gatherings, he pokes me and urges me to leave early, which makes me try to avoid him.

"Why are you already wanting to leave as soon as we arrive? If you want to go home so badly, go ahead. I'm staying longer," I said.

I made an effort to stay far from him, avoiding eye contact. He hovered around me and eventually approached, saying,

"Isn't it time to leave now?"

"Why don't you just leave if you want to? I said I'd stay longer."

"It's frustrating. Fine, I'll wait outside. Take your time talking and come out when you're ready."

"I'm going to stay a long while. Why are you waiting outside? Don't wait for me. Just let me do things my way," I replied.

After chatting with my friends for a long time, I noticed that it had become quiet around me. My husband had disappeared. Thinking he had gone home, I felt at ease and fully immersed myself in the conversation.

As the gathering was winding down, someone said,

"Senior, it's been so long since we last met. It's too bad to part ways now. Let's go to a café and talk more."

"That sounds great. Let's do that," I replied.

As we opened the door to leave, my husband's large face was right there waiting for me.

"Oh my gosh, you scared me! Why are you still here? I thought you went home."

"I was just watching people pass by while waiting for you to come out," he said.

I apologized to my friend.

"I'm afraid if I don't go home, he'll just keep standing outside. Let's continue our conversation next time."

I walked in the direction of our house with my husband. I felt a little guilty.

"Thanks for waiting for me," I said.

"I was worried something might happen if you came home late at night by yourself, so I waited," he replied.

"Instead of waiting on the street like that, when I tell you the time I want to leave, it would be nice if you just said, 'Okay,'" I said.

For 40 years, I’ve endured his burdensome displays of affection and his habit of twisting everything I say. Sometimes, I envy the freedom of being single.