For five whole days our two-year-old daughter Maria had been seriously ill. She constantly had a high fever and a terrible cough. During the day there was still a relatively low temperature and the cough was not very bad. Of course, the daughter was lethargic and did not eat well. But Maria played with dolls and entertained herself. And I had time to do all the household chores.
Of course, I gave her medicine and gave her inhalations. Maria didn’t like it very much and I had to entertain her with stories. And at night it was quite difficult. The baby had a terrible cough and her temperature rose to 39. I carried her in my arms and softly sang songs to her. As soon as I stopped singing, she would raise her head and say.
– Sing some more.
And when Maria fell asleep, I’d go back to my husband’s bedroom. But he didn’t like it very much. He was angry that I went to the baby and prevented him from getting a good night’s sleep before work.
– Why don’t I sleep with Maria while she’s sick? And then you normally sleep!
– No! It’s Maria who’s sick, not you! You have to sleep with me! – My husband answered me.
And the next night the situation was repeated. I ironed my husband’s shirts, and he scolded me for disturbing him with the hiss of the steamer. And I couldn’t turn up the TV, because that would wake Maria up.
– Can’t you hear? Maria is awake and crying! Go to her! – said my husband to me.
I ran to my daughter. For these days I was very tired and wanted to sleep very badly. I carried the baby in my arms and sang songs to her. Then Maria began to fall asleep. I put her in the crib and myself lay down next to her and fell asleep unexpectedly. It seemed to me that I closed my eyes for just five minutes. And then it turned out that I slept for a whole hour. My husband told me about it and woke me up.
– Have you lost your conscience? How dare you fall asleep? I’m waiting for you!
– Well, go to bed yourself!
– You only think about yourself! And when are you going to do your marital duties?! I’ve been without a woman’s caress for four days! You want me to get a mistress? I will if you don’t do your marital duties!
After these words, my husband turned around and left. And I looked after him with surprise. I touched Maria’s forehead and sighed with relief: her temperature had finally dropped.
And I would figure out how to fix things with my husband when I had a good night’s sleep…
