“You Don’t Have to Sit at the Table. Your Job is to Make Sure the Guests are Happy and Well-Fed,” Said Her Husband

Sarah had always been the kind of person who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. She loved cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family. But when her husband, Mark, suggested they host a dinner party for his colleagues, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She had never been the hostess type and had no idea how to entertain a group of people she barely knew.

“Don’t worry about it,” Mark said reassuringly. “You don’t have to sit at the table. Your job is to make sure the guests are happy and well-fed.”

Sarah nodded, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. She spent the next few days planning the menu, shopping for ingredients, and cleaning the house from top to bottom. On the day of the party, she was a bundle of nerves.

As the guests started arriving, Sarah did her best to greet them with a smile. She served appetizers and drinks, making sure everyone had what they needed. But as the evening wore on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

During a lull in the conversation, Sarah decided to ask Mark what he wanted for his birthday, which was coming up in a few weeks. He didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“A subscription to the gym,” he said.

Sarah was taken aback. “But you don’t even like working out, do you?” she asked.

“No,” Mark admitted. “But I need to get in shape. It’s important for my health.”

Sarah nodded, though she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. She had hoped for something more personal, something that showed he appreciated her efforts.

As the night went on, Sarah continued to play the role of hostess, making sure everyone was well-fed and happy. But deep down, she felt a growing sense of unease. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just going through the motions, that she was missing out on something important.

After the last guest had left and the house was finally quiet, Sarah sat down at the kitchen table and let out a long sigh. She felt exhausted and unfulfilled. She realized that she had spent so much time trying to make everyone else happy that she had forgotten about her own needs and desires.

In the days that followed, Sarah tried to talk to Mark about how she was feeling. But he seemed preoccupied with his own concerns and didn’t seem to understand what she was going through.

As weeks turned into months, Sarah found herself growing more and more distant from her husband. She felt like they were living separate lives, each focused on their own goals and interests. The gym subscription sat unused in a drawer, a constant reminder of their growing disconnect.

One evening, as Sarah was preparing dinner, Mark came home late from work. He barely acknowledged her as he walked past her into the living room. Sarah felt a lump form in her throat as she realized that their relationship had reached a breaking point.

She knew that something had to change, but she didn’t know where to start. She felt trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled expectations and unmet needs.

In the end, Sarah decided to take a step back and focus on herself for a while. She started going for long walks in the park, rediscovering her love for nature. She took up painting and found solace in expressing herself through art.

But despite her efforts to find happiness on her own, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness that had settled over her life. She missed the connection she once had with Mark, but she didn’t know how to bridge the gap that had grown between them.

As she sat alone in her studio one evening, staring at a blank canvas, Sarah realized that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things don’t always work out the way you hope. And that’s okay.