My husband and I agreed to make my 30th birthday memorable. However, when the date arrived, he chose to see his favorite band rather than spend the day with me or make special plans for us. I decided to give him a taste of his own medicine, something that shocked him.
I’ll be turning 30 soon, and I rarely ever make a fuss about my birthday. The last time I attempted anything special was when my grandparents kindly let me use their timeshare for a few days, but unfortunately, I ended up contracting COVID-19.
Since I turned 29, I’ve been subtly hinting to my husband that I wanted to do something a bit more memorable for my 30th birthday. I remember telling him, “Alex, you know, I really want to do something special for my 30th. It’s a milestone birthday, and I think it would be nice to celebrate it in a memorable way.”
He nodded in agreement and said, “Sarah, I promise to help make it happen.” So, when my request for time off work was finally approved this week, I felt a surge of excitement. Now, all I have to do is start planning and arranging everything. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
On the morning of my 30th birthday, I expected to wake up to a day filled with love and surprises. Instead, I found an empty spot beside me in bed and a note from my husband, reading. “Happy Birthday, love! Got tickets to see The Electric Hearts tonight with Lisa. Will make it up to you. – Alex”
My heart, initially fluttering with the excitement of a child on their birthday, plummeted. The Electric Hearts, is Alex’s favorite band, and apparently now Lisa’s too. Lisa, is my husband’s “best friend” from work, whose sudden interest in the band felt more like a tactical invasion than genuine fandom.
I was also confused by this note, since my husband had promised to help make my 30th birthday perfect. My confusion quickly turned to frustration. I stormed into the living room, where Alex was just about to leave for work, the note clenched in my fist.
“A big deal? It’s my 30th birthday, Alex! How could you think going to a concert with Lisa, of all people, would be okay?” I could feel my voice rising, a mixture of hurt and disbelief washing over me.
Alex set his briefcase, his brow furrowing. “I honestly didn’t think it would upset you this much. I figured we could celebrate your birthday later in the night or the next day. The concert was a one-time opportunity.”