I’m Hozumi, 40, a working mom. I live with my husband, our 9th-grade daughter, Yuka, and our 7th-grade son, Keito. We had plans to visit my late father-in-law’s grave with my mother-in-law, who lives nearby. Right before the trip, I dented the car and was too shaken to get behind the wheel. Since we only had a compact loaner car at the time, I asked my husband if our family could just go on our own and meet his mother there. But he broke that promise. Though I was fuming, Yuka’s worried face stayed on my mind, so I headed out to join my family and my mother-in-law—who had already finished the service—at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.
I didn’t make it in time for the graveside service, but I joined the family for lunch. My mother-in-law was being incredibly petty, doing things like completely ignoring me when taking food orders. Between being ditched for the service and her constant jabs, I was even more frustrated than usual.
Once we got home, I let my husband have it. I asked him how he could be so blind to her spiteful behavior. Even then, he tried to make excuses for her. Seeing my husband prioritize his mother over his own wife… I couldn’t take it anymore. The words “I’m done with you” just came pouring out.