He Chose His Career Over Me

“You picked work over me.”

“II cant believe what Im hearing! This is ridiculous! Your damn job, your urgent calls, your endless business trips!” Emma knocked her coffee cup off the table, sending it flying into the wall. Brown splatters sprayed everywhere, shattering like cheap party glitter.

“Stop being dramatic, youre acting like a child,” James said, his voice eerily calm, which only made her angrier. She was boiling inside, and there he stood, unmoved. “I cant just cancel this trip, Em. This is about the director promotion. Its happening now.”

“The promotion?!” She nearly choked on the word. “That promotion alwaysalways comes before us! Remember when you missed Lilys graduation? Or my birthday, even though I reminded you for a week? And now this! Maxs surgery is in two days, and youre jetting off to bloody Edinburgh!”

“Manchester,” he corrected automatically, then winced.

“Who cares! You could be flying to the moon for all I care!” Emma waved her arms like a windmill. “You wont be there when your son goes under anaesthesia. When hes terrified. When Im climbing the walls with worry! And all for some stupid contract no one cares about!”

James exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his stubbled face. Dark circles under his eyes, jaw set stubbornly.

“Its a rubbish contract, I know, but this is my shot at CFO. Twenty years, Em. My whole career. And Maxs surgery is routinejust tonsils. Its not brain surgery.”

“Oh, brilliant! And if something goes wrong? What then, huh?!” She dug her nails into her palms.

“Nothing will. I spoke to the surgeon myself.”

“But if it does?!” Her voice shot up an octave.

“Sit down, for Gods sake!” He jerked his shoulders. “If anything happens, Ill be on the first flight back. Like when Lily had appendicitis, remember?”

“Oh, I remember!” She scoffed. “You rolled in eight hours after it was over. The surgeons had gone home, but there you werehero of the hour!”

James just shook his head.

“Do you think Im made of elastic? I cant be in two places at once, Em. Im killing myself so we can have this life. Or did you forget how you nagged me about the new house? ‘The neighbours are loud, the streets a mess, the Tubes too far'”

“Id rather still be in that tiny flat!” she shot back. “With a proper husband and father who actually sees his kids more than once a week!”

James dropped into a chair like a sack of potatoes.

“Listen, we agreed on this, didnt we? You handle home, the kids, the routine. I grind at work to keep us comfortable. Whats changed?”

Emma opened her mouth to tear into him, but the front door slammedbackpacks thudded to the floor, kids voices spilling into the hall.

“Fine. Well talk later,” she muttered, forcing a smile so fake it hurt her cheeks as she marched out.

James opened his laptop. He had a presentation to finish, but his mind was foggy, useless.

That night, after the kids were asleep, Emma scrolled mindlessly through her phone at the kitchen table. The tears had dried; now she just felt numb. Twenty-two years of marriage, and somehow their life had become a spreadsheetincome, outgoings, assets, liabilities. When had it gotten so complicated?

James walked in and sat across from her.

“Coffee?” she asked flatly.

“Yeah.” He rubbed his temples. “Em, we need to talk.”

“About what?” She clicked the kettle on. “Its obvious. Youre flying out the day after tomorrow. Max and I will manage the hospital alone.”

“Listen” He moved closer, hands on her shoulders. “I know this is hard. But this promotion… it matters.”

“More than us?” She turned, and he saw it thennot anger, just exhaustion.

“Its for you. Everything I do is for you.”

“No, James,” she said quietly. “Its for you. Your pride. Your career. Weve been an afterthought for years.”

“Thats not true.”

“Isnt it? When Max talked about his surgery, guess what he said? ‘Good thing its during Dads triphed stress about missing work.’ Hes *eleven*, James. Hes already adjusting his life around your schedule.”

James had no answer.

“And Lily asked if youd make her uni graduation next year. Not because she wants you therebecause shes scared youll be ‘too busy’ again.”

“Ill try to be there,” he muttered.

“‘Try.’ Always ‘try.'” Emma scoffed. “You know what made me realise youd chosen work over me? The miscarriage. Ten years ago. You flew in two days after I was discharged.”

“I was in Hong Kong for negotiations”

“Exactly.” Her voice cracked. “You were negotiating. And I was alone, losing our baby.”

She turned away, grinding coffee beans harder than necessary.

“You never said anything,” he whispered.

“What would it have changed? Youd apologise, promise it wouldnt happen again, then pick work the next time.”

James pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maybe you should talk to someone. A therapist.”

“Right. Because *I*m the problem.” She laughed bitterly. “Not the fact my husbands a glorified lodger who tops up the joint account. No, its my attitude thats wrong.”

“Thats not what I meant. Youre blowing this out of proportion.”

“Am I?” Her voice turned razor-sharp. “When was the last parents evening you attended? Do you even know Maxs form tutors name? Or what Lilys dissertation is about?”

Silence.

“Exactly. Youve missed our lives, James. And youre still missing them.”

She slid a coffee across the table. He took a sip and wincedtoo strong, like always when she was upset.

“I could take summer leave,” he offered. “Well go away, all of us.”

“Lilys backpacking in Cornwall with mates,” Emma said flatly. “Max is signed up for footy camp.”

“You couldve warned me before planning!”

“I did. Twice. You said, ‘Sort it, well see.’ So we did.”

He rubbed his eyes. “Sorry. I dont remember.”

“Know whats worst?” She stared past him. “Im starting to think Im better off without you. When youre home, I keep hoping youll finally *be* herenot just physically. And every time, Im disappointed.”

“What do you want from me?” His voice frayed. “To turn down the promotion? Quit?”

“I want our kids to have a father, not a walking ATM. I want a husband, not a flatmate who occasionally sleeps here.”

“I cant throw away my career at fifty,” he said firmly. “Its too late to start over.”

“No ones asking you to. Just find balance.”

“Im trying!” His voice rose, then dropped as he remembered the sleeping kids. “I *am*, Em. But in my role”

“Your role, your salary, your responsibility,” she cut in. “I know the script by heart. Meanwhile, the kids are growing up without you. So am I.”

“Thats not fair. I always try to be home weekends.”

“When theres no emergency at work,” she shot back. “Which happens once a month if were lucky.”

Silence. Just the hum of the fridge and cars outside.

“I cant cancel the trip,” he said finally. “But Ill move my flight back a day to take Max to hospital.”

“Youve already booked tickets.”

“Ill change them. And Ill call every hour until they say hes out of surgery.”

Emma gave a joyless laugh. “You think that fixes things?”

“No,” he admitted. “But its a start. I dont want to lose you, Em. I mean it.”

“You already nearly have,” she whispered. “And I dont know if its fixable.”

—

The hospital corridor buzzed with noise. Emma sat on a plastic chair outside theatre, twisting her handbag strap. Max had been in there for over an hourtwice as long as the surgeon predicted.

Beside her, Lily scrolled on her phone, but Emma caught the worried glances at the operating room doors.

“Wheres Dad?” Lily asked suddenly.

“You knowbusiness trip.”

“Yeah, but he promised to call.”

Emma checked her watch. “Hes probably in a meeting. Forgot.”

“Classic,” Lily muttered.

Before Emma could reply, the doors swung open. The surgeon stepped out, mask hanging loose.

“All went well,” he said. “