I woke up early, determined to surprise Mira with breakfast. The smell of coffee filled our small apartment as I mixed pancake batter, humming softly to myself.

As I flipped the first golden disk onto a plate, I heard Mira padding into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around me from behind, and I turned to plant a kiss on her forehead.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” I said, smiling. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

We sat down on the floor, sunlight streaming through the windows. I poured us both coffee as Mira drizzled syrup over her stack of pancakes.

“So, what’s on the agenda today?” she asked, taking a bite.

I swallowed a mouthful of coffee before replying, “I’ve got that big presentation at 2. You?”

“Just a regular shift at the store. Should be home by 6 if all goes well.”

We chatted about our plans for the weekend as we finished eating. It was a perfect morning, the kind that made me feel lucky to have Mira in my life.

Little did I know, it would be our last peaceful breakfast for a while.

The next morning, Mira’s phone rang at 6 a.m. sharp. I pretended to sleep as she fumbled for it, squinting at the screen.

“Hello?” she mumbled, trying to sound awake.

I could hear Gabriel’s voice on the other end. “Mira, Sarah’s called in sick. Can you come in early to cover her shift?”

Mira sighed, glancing at me before agreeing. “Sure, I’ll be there.”

This became our new normal. Every morning, like clockwork, Gabriel would call at 6 a.m. with another “emergency” — someone was sick, running late, or had a family crisis.

Mira would drag herself out of bed, leaving our cozy mornings behind. I’d lie there, feeling helpless and increasingly frustrated as my wife became the go-to solution for every staffing problem.

Weeks passed, and I watched as Mira grew more exhausted. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, replaced by dark circles. She’d come home and collapse on the couch, barely able to keep her eyes open during dinner.

I tried to help where I could — making sure she had coffee ready in the mornings, taking on more household chores. But there was only so much I could do to combat the relentless early morning calls.

One evening, as I was clearing the table, Mira snapped at me for leaving a dish in the sink. The moment the words left her mouth, I could see the regret on her face.

“I’m sorry,” she said, rubbing her temples. “I’m just so tired.”

I put down the plate I was holding and moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know, babe. This can’t go on. Have you thought about talking to Evelyn?”

Mira shook her head, leaning into my touch. “I don’t want to make waves. Gabriel might make my life even harder.”

I frowned but didn’t push it. We finished cleaning up in silence, the tension thick between us. As we got ready for bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had to change.

The next morning, Gabriel called even earlier — 5:45 a.m. I listened as Mira answered, her voice raspy with sleep. She agreed to be there by 7, already getting out of bed as she hung up.

I looked over, unable to keep quiet any longer. “Was that Gabriel again?”

Mira nodded, slipping gently onto my chest where I could just make out her tired eyes in the dim light brimming through the closed curtains.

“This has to stop, Mira. It’s not fair to you or us.”

She sighed. “I know, but what can I do?”

An idea struck me then, born of frustration and a desire to see Mira smile again. “What if we gave him a taste of his own medicine?”

Mira paused, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“Call him at some ungodly hour. See how he likes it.”

She laughed, but I could see the idea taking root. Maybe it was time for her to stand up for herself.

That night, as we lay in bed, Mira whispered, “You really think I should do it?”