After a brutal year battling cancer, all Jessica wanted was a peaceful escape on a dream cruise with her husband. But when an entitled couple turned their vacation into a nightmare, her husband found a mischievous way to reclaim their joy.
The last year and a half had been the hardest of our lives. Jessica was diagnosed with cancer, a word that knocked the wind out of us. She fought fiercely through chemo, and though it drained her, she persisted. Finally, the doctor announced she was in remission. We cried tears of relief, and to celebrate, I booked us a seven-day cruise—a much-needed escape.
Excitement filled the air as we boarded the ship. Jessica’s first real smile in months was everything to me. But soon after, I overheard a man behind us mock our confusion over finding our cabin. I felt anger rise in me, but I forced a smile for Jessica and brushed it off.
Later, during lunch, I spotted the same couple again. They were piling food on their plates, their disdain palpable. As I stewed in frustration, I realized I wouldn’t let this slide. I needed to know more about them, so I discreetly followed them and discovered they were staying one deck below us.
That evening, while having a quiet dinner, I heard the man’s voice again, belittling us. Jessica’s expression fell, and I felt a surge of protectiveness. That night, I hatched a plan.
A cruise ship | Source: Pexels
While Jessica slept, I snuck out with our remote. I aimed it at their cabin door, cranked up their TV’s volume, and rushed back, stifling laughter. Each night, I repeated the prank, enjoying the chaos I’d sown.
As the cruise continued, I noticed a change. Our vacation became lighter, and Jessica began to relax. But on the last night, I decided to take it up a notch. I flipped through channels until I found an obnoxious infomercial and cranked up the volume.
The next morning, I spotted the entitled couple looking exhausted. The man complained about not sleeping a wink, while his wife suspected something was wrong with the ship’s TV. I couldn’t help but smile as I sipped my coffee.
Jessica noticed my smirk. “Feeling better?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Much better,” I replied, reaching for her hand.
Watching the couple, I realized that while I’d gotten my revenge, it didn’t bring the satisfaction I expected. What mattered was that Jessica was healthy and happy again.
As we disembarked, hand in hand, the entitled couple lingered behind us, but they no longer mattered. “This trip didn’t turn out how I thought it would,” I said to Jessica.
“No, but it’s one I’ll never forget,” she replied.
And she was right. This trip was about reclaiming our joy and finding peace after everything we had faced together. That, I realized, was the greatest victory of all.
