Give it up! You promised youd quit!
Andrew, have you lost your mind? Eleanor gasped, steadying herself. Who walks away from a post like that? Do you even know the salary?
Moneys never been enough for you, Andrew snapped, disdain flickering in his eyes. Or has power gone to your head?
The audience loathes the cliché of a heroine sobbing over a cooling cup of tea, but our heroine never drinks tea at all; she clings to the image of a forlorn sip of tea as a symbol of her turmoil. Replace the tea with a glass of orange juice or a mug of milk, and the grief remains just as sharp.
Eleanor perched on the edge of a plush armchair, the cushion biting at her thighs, head bowed over the nowlukewarm tea. Her thoughts were heavy, the situation seemed hopeless. The one comfort was that her son, Tom, didnt witness the fracture. A monthlong summer camp had taken him away, promising his return brighteyed and happy. The camp added a faint weight to her worries, but the true source of the strain was Andrewher husband.
The word was hovered over their marriage like a question mark. Was he still her husband, or merely a memory? A domestic Schrödingers cat, that was the dilemma Eleanor wrestled with.
Andrews final words before slamming the door still echoed:
Enough! I never want to see you again! Youve ruined my life! Im leaving!
Was it a temporary departure or a permanent one? Did he intend to return by nightfall, in a few days, or never at all? The answers never came, leaving only a thick fog of uncertainty.
If we rewind to the spark that set the drama ablaze, the cause becomes clearer. It all began when Eleanor, using her recent bonus, paid the £4,000 fee for Toms weeklong adventure at the countryside camp. Andrew erupted, shouting, Throwing £4,000 into the family budget without even a word? We have other priorities!
Eleanor shrugged. We have the money. If we need something, lets buy it!
Andrew stormed out, his voice still ringing in the hallway. Fourteen years of marriage cracked under his accusations. In his eyes, Eleanor was the worst wife imaginable.
Had you loved me, youd stay out of business, keep quiet, and enjoy life. All you want is to leap higher than anyone else! he roared. You think only of yourself! If you cared about our family, youd be the perfect housewife, work quietly, and keep the home in order!
Eleanor, bewildered, could not see any fault in herself. She worked, tended the house, raised Tom, and gave Andrew affection. She asked the blunt question, only to be met with more shouts and blame.
What? Why? For what? she sputtered, the tea growing colder still. If the moneys been saved for ages, why bring it up now? What does the camp have to do with anything?
The office block where they first met was a maze of glass towers in the City of London, a labyrinth without a map. Employees eventually learned the buildings layout like a hive of busy bees. It was in that hive, in a small park between two firms, that Eleanor and Andrew first crossed paths. Both were coldcall sales repsno degrees, just phones and a cold list of prospects. They had proven themselves enough to earn permanent spots, yet the stress drove them to lunch breaks in the park.
If not for that park, perhaps destiny would never have tangled their lives. Shared hardships forged a quick bond, and soon a tentative romance blossomed, leading to a swift marriage. Eleanor owned a modest flat bequeathed by her grandmother, but she wanted a home filled with more than just love; she needed a steady income.
Three years into their union, Eleanor announced, Ive been offered a promotion, and Im pregnant.
Good heavens! Andrew exclaimed.
What part of that makes you happy? Eleanor teased.
The baby, of course! Andrew replied. Your promotion will stay where it is. The baby, however, needs to be born.
At that time Andrew had no promotion on the horizon; he chose the child over his own career advancement. While Eleanor was on maternity leave, Andrew shouldered the family’s finances, relying on a base salary plus commissions. He managed, but the promised raise never arrived. When Eleanor returned, the same promotion was offered to herone she had turned down because of her pregnancy.
From then on, a faint tension settled over the household. Eleanor blamed it on jealousy over Tom, while Andrew lingered longer at work. Both received promotions simultaneously; Andrew became a senior manager, Eleanor a department head. He accepted congratulations sparingly, but his gratitude was generous when offered. Soon he began pushing, suggesting Eleanor should spend more time at home.
Soon Ill run the whole department, he said. Why waste your days in dusty offices? Youre better suited to the house and the child. Ill take care of us!
Andrew, I cant quit now that Ive just been promoted, Eleanor protested. People trust me. I cant let them down.
Is work more important than family to you? he pressed.
Eleanor, never one to choose, offered a compromise: Ill finish my current projects, then Ill step down. Andrew agreed, unaware that her boss had other plansshe was being offered to run a new branch. When the official letter arrived, Eleanor stared at it, bewildered.
Didnt anyone ask me? she muttered. The director just handed me the order, flowers, and congratulations. I didnt even have time to react.
Andrew burst in, furious. Refuse it! Come back Monday and sign the resignation. You promised youd quit!
Andrew, are you mad? Eleanor whispered, regaining composure. Who quits a role that pays well? Do you know how much we could earn? We could renovate the flat, buy a car, send Tom to a good school, finally take a proper holiday!
Moneys always the excuse, Andrew sneered. Or perhaps youre drunk on power.
I think first of the family, Eleanor countered. I manage work, the house, Tom, everything. I always find time for you.
The argument cooled when Eleanor bought a car herself, handing the keys to Andrew. Balance returned; they renovated, enrolled Tom in a reputable school, and enjoyed two vacations a year.
Then a new problem surfaced.
We need a second car, Eleanor announced. I miss driving the first one.
Do you think Im not good enough as a driver? Andrew retorted.
They still worked in the same building.
Im being transferred to the headquarters in the city centre, Eleanor said with a sigh. If you drive me there, youll be stuck in endless traffic.
Andrew exhaled, resigned. If I have to go, I will. But are we sure about the move?
Weve done this before, Eleanor replied. When the boss shows interest, we should seize the opportunity and take everything they offer.
Soon the summer camp resurfaced, its £4,000 fee a reminder of the earlier dispute. Eleanor had transferred the money, believing Tom would benefit. It was not even half of her bonus, yet Andrews fury lingered.
A sudden realization struck Andrew: envy. Its plain envy! he whispered to himself. Ive never moved beyond senior manager, while youve leapt ahead. Memories of his demands that Eleanor quit and become a housewife flooded back. The rift seemed unbridgeable.
The sound of a turning key in the lock snapped Eleanor from her thoughtsit could only be Andrew. She leaned back, letting her posture relax into a casual slump.
Im home, Andrew announced, stepping inside.
Back for your things? Eleanor asked.
He shot her a contemptuous glance. Im home! Home!
No! Eleanor laughed bitterly. Youre back for your belongings. I wont live with you any longer!
Sorry, he muttered, heading for the sofa.
No forgiveness! Eleanor snapped. Im done. I didnt ask for this. I earn more than you, I balance work, home, and Tom. Youre always exhausted after work, probably treating the job the same way you treat us. It doesnt matter now. Pack your stuff and leave!
Feeling powerful, are we? Andrew shouted. Everyone knows how you clawed your way up. Youre a boss!
The tea had long since gone cold, its steam vanished. Andrew wiped his face, his anger draining.
Over a fresh cup, still steaming, Eleanor realized that from the moment they first met, Andrew had harboured a fierce rivalry, always trying to outdo her. The larger the gap between them, the more his jealousy eroded any love left. Whether there ever was love, Eleanor would ponder over another mugperhaps before the tea ever grows cold again.
