It had been the worst week of Alex and Maya’s marriage.
They’d barely spoken since Tuesday, when a small misunderstanding about who was picking up the groceries had snowballed into a full-blown row. The kind where neither remembers how it started, only that both felt wronged.
By Friday, they were emotionally exhausted. Maya had been quieter than usual. Alex kept finding reasons to work late, even when he didn’t need to.
The Birthday That Wasn’t
Friday also happened to be Maya’s birthday — and Alex had planned something special: dinner at her favourite restaurant. But a meeting overran, traffic was a nightmare, and by the time he walked through the door, it was 9pm.
In his hands: a takeaway bag.
On her face: disappointment so sharp it made his stomach turn.
“You forgot,” she said flatly.
“I didn’t forget, I—”
“Don’t. Just… don’t.”
When Talking Makes It Worse
Alex wanted to explain, to justify, to fix it. But every time he opened his mouth, he saw her expression harden.
Eventually, he gave up. He went to the living room, sat on the sofa, and stared at the wall, wondering how something so small could feel like the end of something so big.
The Spark of an Idea
On the side table sat an unopened gift from a friend — a gag book he’d laughed at once, then forgotten about. The cover read:
“The Secret to Getting the Last Word in a Relationship: Hint: It’s Two Magical Words”
He picked it up, took a breath, and walked back into the kitchen.
The Turning Point
Without speaking, Alex placed the book in front of her and slid it across the counter. Maya looked at it, then at him.
Her curiosity got the better of her. She opened it. Blank pages. Every one.
A small, unwilling smile tugged at her lips. “Two magical words?”
Alex nodded. “I’m sorry.”
The Shift
Maya laughed — not a big laugh, but enough to break the ice. She picked up a pen and wrote on the first page:
Lesson 1: Say it like you mean it.
They sat down and shared the now-lukewarm takeaway. They talked — about the week, about the birthday, about how easy it was to let small things snowball.
Later That Night
When they went to bed, the book stayed on her nightstand. Before turning out the light, Maya added:
Lesson 2: Don’t forget the cake next year.
Alex grinned. “Noted.”
The Moral
Sometimes, the last word isn’t a clever comeback or a stinging remark. Sometimes, it’s an apology you mean — and a blank book that helps you get there.