I’ve always considered myself lucky. Liam and I have been married for 25 years, and life has been comfortable. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we were solid—until recently.
I noticed small changes, especially Liam’s sudden obsession with the bathroom. He’d always been quick, but over the last six months, he started spending hours in there. I brushed it off at first, thinking he might just need more alone time. But then I began hearing strange noises—thuds and grunts—that made me uneasy.
One night, I knocked softly on the bathroom door. “Liam? Everything alright in there?”
“Yeah, just… taking my time,” he replied, his voice strained.
His secrecy grew. He started locking the door, which he never did before. When I casually asked about it, he snapped, “Can’t a guy have some privacy?” My curiosity turned into worry. What was he hiding?
Then, one afternoon, I heard his phone buzz on the counter while he was locked in the bathroom. It was his mom calling. “Can you get it? I’m busy!” he shouted from inside. I answered, but when I glanced at his phone, I noticed an open video thumbnail recorded just an hour ago.
A man sitting in a bathroom | Source: Midjourney
Heart racing, I clicked play. To my shock, there was Liam, exercising in the bathroom! He was doing push-ups and sit-ups, clearly pushing himself hard.
Relief washed over me. That’s what he was doing? I marched to the bathroom door and knocked firmly. “Liam! Open the door. We need to talk.”
After a moment, he unlocked it, looking flushed and holding a resistance band. “You saw the video, didn’t you?” he asked, defeated.
“What on earth is going on?” I asked, trying to understand.
“I’ve put on weight—nine kilos in the last few months,” he admitted, shame written all over his face. “I didn’t want you to see me like this.”
“Liam, everyone gains weight sometimes. You didn’t need to hide it!” I exclaimed, my frustration melting away.
He sighed. “I didn’t want to worry you. I thought you’d think less of me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. “You could’ve just told me! I’d support you no matter what.”
He smiled sheepishly, and I felt a weight lift. “Next time, let’s work out together. No more secrets, okay?”
“Okay,” he whispered, pulling me into a hug.
In that moment, everything felt right again. We both laughed, realizing that sometimes, the things we’re afraid to admit are what bring us closer.
