Life is funny in that it can take you by surprise at any time and completely upend your perspective. I experienced something similar after learning a ground-breaking fact about the person I was in love with. I’m Jonathan, and until a few weeks ago, I believed I understood everything. I’m just a regular guy living a straightforward life. Mary and I have been married for six years, and our lovely little daughter, Jazmin, is ours. This spirited five-year-old with my rebellious streak and her mother’s dark eyes is the joy of my life. Jazmin is the type of child who can bring a smile to your face simply by entering the room. About Mary, she has always been my pillar of support.
She is the type of woman who is self-assured, organic, and at ease in her own flesh; she doesn’t need to put on airs. That was one of the things that initially drew me to her. You know, Mary has never been one to wear statement pieces or makeup. In all the years we’ve been dating, I believe I’ve only seen her wear her one pair of high heels maybe twice.Mary has consistently said that wearing heels is extremely unpleasant and that she is not like makeup. That’s something I’ve always admired about her: her genuineness. However, something hasn’t been right recently, and I’m not exactly sure what it is.It all began approximately one month ago. After work, I would be worn out but excited to see my daughters when I got home. And there would be Jazmin, stumbling around in those exact same high heels, beaming with pride akin to a peacock and wearing an ear-to-ear grin. “Like Mom, I’m a princess!” She would chirp, her little voice beaming with happiness. I would always pick her up, give her a kiss on the cheek, and tell her, “Jazzy, you are the most beautiful princess in the world.” She would chuckle and put her tiny arms around my neck. However, as the days went by, that persistent feeling began to surface. Why is this taking place? Where was she getting the inspiration for the lipstick and heels? It was nonsensical. Mary never applied lipstick or wore heels. The last time I saw her, she was usually just wearing her flats and maybe some lip balm. It gnawed at me more and more the more I considered it. I sat at the dinner table one evening, exhausted from another exhausting day, and pushed my food around my plate, trying to make sense of it all. Jazmin was on the floor in her customary location, and Mary was singing as she cleaned the dishes. She was playing with her dolls, who had similarly developed small, lipstick-like crimson streaks on their faces. I made the decision at that point that I could no longer ignore it. I beckoned Jazmin near me and gently lifted her onto my lap.
“Hi Jazzy, you always say you look like Mom, but Mom never wears heels,” I said in a lighthearted manner.She gave me a wide-eyed look, as though I had just stated the most perplexing thing ever. “She does.” Jazmin urged, giving a passionate nod. “Every day that you report for duty.” My heart skipped a beat. “You mean, like, every day?” She clarified, her voice full of that infantile confidence, “Mommy has so many heels.” “She picks them up and delivers me to Aunt Lily’s place. In the car, I witness her applying red lipstick before she drives off. Time simply stopped at that very moment, I promise. I tried to take in what my daughter was saying as I looked at her, my mind racing. Heels? Lipstick? Leaving her at Lily’s? “Jazzy, are you sure?” My question came out as no more than a whisper. “You see Mom with lipstick and heels?” She nodded again, showing no signs of awareness of the growing panic rising in my chest.
“Yeah, right! Daddy, she looks very nice. However, she doesn’t wear them while you’re not around. I was reeling within, even though I was trying to maintain a neutral appearance. What was taking place? Was Mary… Did she have something to hide from me? Betraying me with falsehoods? Mary decided to enter the dining room at that precise moment and use a dish towel to dry her hands. She turned to face the two of us, her smile as genuine and gentle as ever. Now though, the smile turned my stomach.She approached Jazmin to fluff her hair and inquired, in a fun way, “What are you two whispering about?” I managed to say, “Nothing, just talking about princesses,” though my voice sounded strange to me. However, I was inside howling.
