“EVERY NIGHT, I NOTICED THAT MY HUSBAND WAS ALWAYS WAKE UP — AND ALWAYS ON HIS CELL PHONE. I THOUGHT HE HAD A WIFE… BUT WHEN I FOLLOWED HIM, I COULDN’T STOP CRYING.”

I am  Liza , 32 years old, a teacher.
I am married to  Ramil , 35, a carpenter.
We have been married for ten years, and like all married couples, we also go through hardships and arguments.
But in recent months —  Ramil has been acting differently.

Every night, when I’m asleep, I feel him getting up.
It’s quiet, but he always takes his cellphone with him.
Sometimes in the bathroom, sometimes outside the house.
And every time I wake up, he’s back in bed, pretending to be asleep.

I’m starting to  have doubts.

“Does he have a girlfriend?”
“Is he hiding something from me?”

I don’t know if I’m more afraid of knowing the truth or more afraid of not knowing.

THE BEGINNING OF SUSPICION

One night, I pretended to be asleep.
I looked out of the corner of my eye — he got up again.
Quietly, slowly, like a thief.
He took his cellphone, went out onto the terrace.

When he came out, I followed him quietly, without making a sound.
I saw him sitting on the bench, his cellphone in his hand, hunched over.
He was talking to someone — his voice was low, but I could sense a sadness.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I can’t tell Liza.
I don’t want her to worry.”

I was stunned.
“Who is  Ma ?”
Was it his mother? Or another woman’s “Mama”?

THE REVEAL OF THE SECRET

The next day, I pretended not to know.
But that night, I did the same thing again — I pretended to be asleep.
And when he got up, I followed him.

Because of the strong wind, he couldn’t hear me when I approached behind the pole.
He was looking at the screen, sending a message.
The name on the contact:  “Dad’s Medicine.”

I watched as he typed.

“Is Dad feeling better?
Sorry, Mom, I only sent a small amount again.
Maybe I can send more next week.”

My hands were shaking as I watched him.
He wasn’t talking to a woman — he was talking  to his mother.

He doesn’t tell me that he still sends money to his parents in the province.
Every night, he hides to load and make calls, because  he doesn’t want me to know that he still prioritizes them over our own expenses.

FACING THE TRUTH

The next day, while we were eating breakfast, I couldn’t stop talking.

“Ramil…”
“Why, Liza?”
“Why don’t you tell me that you’re still sending for Mom?”

He stopped, stunned, as if cold water had been poured over him.

“How did you know?”
“I heard last night.”

He was silent for a moment, then looked at me.

“I’m sorry, Liza.
I didn’t mean to hide it.
I know we’re in a tight spot, and I don’t want you to think I’m putting them first.
But Dad… they’re sick.
Mom said they don’t want to be disturbed.
That’s why I reach out every night, even if it’s just a little.”

I couldn’t hold it anymore — I burst into tears while holding his hand.

“Ramil, why did you hide it?
If you had just told me, I would have helped you.”

He smiled, sad but loving.

“Because I don’t want you to think that I don’t put you first.
But you and them — you are both my home.”

THE CHANGE OF NIGHT

Since then, he no longer needs to hide.
Every night, we video call his mom and dad together.
And sometimes, when there is extra food, we ourselves send a small bag to the terminal, so that it can reach them.

And every time I wake up in the middle of the night, I still see him looking at his cellphone —
but now, I know why.

“Mom, this is Liza. We are praying together for Dad.”

EPILOGUE

A few months later, Ramil’s father passed away.
But before he passed away, he was able to give us one last message over a video call:

“Son, thank you.
All your sacrifices were not in vain.
I know you are a good wife, a good daughter.
And you, Liza — thank you for understanding.”

When that call ended, we both cried.
And in that moment, I realized —
sometimes, a person’s secrets aren’t always betrayal.
Sometimes, they’re  a return of love that’s given more quietly.