That single act opened my eyes to what our marriage had become. For years, Neil’s “rules” and quiet criticisms had chipped away at my confidence — the clothes I wore, the way I spoke, even how I cooked.

That night, watching my efforts tossed away so casually, I understood that he wasn’t protecting me; he was diminishing me. I didn’t cry or fight. Instead, I quietly ordered a pizza, sat alone at the table, and decided that my life had to change.