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A stressed woman | Source: Shutterstock
A stressed woman | Source: Shutterstock

We Were Left without Electricity after the Hurricane – How My Husband Acted Made Me Question Our Entire Marriage

Sonali Pandey
Jul 10, 2024
10:20 A.M.

Cassandra is in trouble. The hurricane has hit their town, and she is struggling to manage everything. But things get worse due to her husband's indifferent attitude, leaving her to handle the crisis on her own. As she faces the storm and its aftermath, she starts to question his commitment. Will their relationship weather the storm, or is this the breaking point?

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You'd think in a flooded city with no electricity, having your husband nearby would be a comfort. The past few days have proved otherwise.

A woman frustrated with her partner | Source: Pexels

A woman frustrated with her partner | Source: Pexels

I sat on the couch, scrolling through weather updates on my phone.

The news said a storm was coming and that it would be a big one, a hurricane. I had stocked up on food and water and charged all the power banks.

A woman scrolling through her phone | Source: Pexels

A woman scrolling through her phone | Source: Pexels

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I had even prepared the kids' favorite meals and downloaded cartoons in advance.

My husband, Brandon, sat across the room, watching TV. He didn't seem to understand how serious this was.

A man watching TV | Source: Freepik

A man watching TV | Source: Freepik

"Lily, Ethan," I called out to my children, "stay in the living room, okay? Mommy needs to check on a few things."

They were playing with their toys and barely looked up.

"Brandon, can you help me secure the windows?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Open windows | Source: Pexels

Open windows | Source: Pexels

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"We'll be fine," Brandon said with a shrug. "I've never dealt with hurricanes before, but it can't be that bad."

I sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. "Brandon, this is serious. The news says it could be really bad."

He glanced at me, then back at the TV. "You're overreacting, Cassandra," he said.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels

Frustrated, I stood up and went to check the supplies again. The pantry was full and I had extra batteries and flashlights ready.

I looked at the windows and thought about how to secure them by myself. I couldn't rely on Brandon to take this seriously, so after what felt like the ten most frustrating minutes of my life, I did it on my own.

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A woman by the window | Source: Pexels

A woman by the window | Source: Pexels

As I walked back to the living room, I knelt beside my children. "Hey, kiddos, we're going to have a little adventure tonight. We're going to have a campout in the living room. How does that sound?"

Lily's eyes lit up. "Can we watch cartoons, Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie. I downloaded your favorites," I said, trying to smile.

A woman with her children | Source: Pexels

A woman with her children | Source: Pexels

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Brandon finally looked over. "You really think it's going to be that bad?"

"Yes, I do!" I replied angrily.

"Whatever," he said dismissively and returned to his TV show.

Soon, the wind howled outside. The lights flickered and then went out.

A flood in a residential area | Source: Midjourney

A flood in a residential area | Source: Midjourney

The kids started crying in the dark.

"It's okay, guys. Mommy's here," I said, trying to soothe them. I handed them flashlights and pulled them close. Brandon was nowhere to be seen.

"Lily, let's read a story," I suggested, pulling out one of her favorite books.

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A woman and a girl sitting on the bed with a book | Source: Pexels

A woman and a girl sitting on the bed with a book | Source: Pexels

I read to her and Ethan, trying to distract them from the storm outside. The wind howled louder, and the house creaked under the pressure.

After a while, I went back to the kitchen to check on the snacks. That's when I got the first shock of the night. Half of the snacks were gone.

"Brandon!" I called out, my voice shaking with anger. It had to be him who had eaten those snacks.

An angry woman | Source: Midjourney

An angry woman | Source: Midjourney

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I found him in the living room, playing on his phone and using the power bank. "The kids needed those snacks! And I charged the power banks for an emergency, not for you to play games!"

He looked up, annoyed. "Calm down, Cassie. I'm bored. I needed something to do. And hey, the snacks were there for everyone, right?"

"We're in the middle of a hurricane! We need to save our resources," I snapped, my frustration boiling over.

A couple arguing at home | Source: Freepik

A couple arguing at home | Source: Freepik

"Cassandra, you're overreacting. It's just a storm. We'll be fine," he replied, dismissive as ever.

"This isn't just a storm, Brandon! The kids are scared, and we need to be prepared. You can't just sit there playing games and eating all the snacks," I shot back.

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He shrugged. "It's too hot in here anyway. I can't handle it."

A person holding car keys | Source: Unsplash

A person holding car keys | Source: Unsplash

"You can't handle the heat? Or the responsibility?" I retorted.

I could see Brandon was pissed, but he didn't utter another word. In a huff, he grabbed his keys and stormed out. I watched him through the window as he sat in the car, turning on the AC.

A man inside his car | Source: Pexels

A man inside his car | Source: Pexels

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At that moment, I realized I was facing two hurricanes – one outside and one within my own home. Brandon wasn't going to help, and I had to be strong for my kids.

Not knowing how long we would be stuck in the house, I started to think about what we would need to get through this.

I made a plan.

A woman at the window | Source: Pexels

A woman at the window | Source: Pexels

I gathered the remaining snacks and rationed them carefully. We had to make them last. Then, I decided to turn the living room into an adventure land, hoping to keep Lily and Ethan entertained and distracted from the storm outside.

"Alright, kiddos, we're going to build the best fort ever!" I announced with a smile.

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Their faces lit up, and we got to work.

Two kids sitting near a fort | Source: Midjourney

Two kids sitting near a fort | Source: Midjourney

We used blankets, pillows, and chairs to create a cozy fort. The kids crawled inside, giggling and settling down with their flashlights.

I used the last bit of the power bank charge to check the news and reach out to our neighbors. The updates were grim, but knowing what was happening outside helped me plan our next steps.

As I was about to turn off my phone to save the remaining battery, it buzzed with a message from Derek, our neighbor.

A person holding a phone in their hand | Source: Pexels

A person holding a phone in their hand | Source: Pexels

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"How are you and the kids holding up?" he asked.

"We're managing, but it's tough," I replied.

"If you need anything, let me know. I can bring over snacks and an extra power bank," Derek offered.

"Thank you so much, Derek. That would be a huge help," I texted back, feeling grateful.

A man using his phone in dark | Source: Pexels

A man using his phone in dark | Source: Pexels

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Derek standing there with a bag of snacks and a power bank. "Here you go, Cassandra. Hope this helps," he said with a warm smile.

"It's a lifesaver. Thank you," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.

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"Look who's here, kiddos!" I said to my kids.

Snacks | Source: Pexels

Snacks | Source: Pexels

They were thrilled to see Derek, and I sighed with relief. It was good not to be the only adult in the room.

"Mr. Derek! Are you gonna join us?" Lily asked.

"Sure, why not?" he said with a smile.

A happy man with children | Source: Pexels

A happy man with children | Source: Pexels

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We set up the snacks and plugged in the power bank. Derek had brought his iPad, and we decided to watch a downloaded movie. The kids snuggled into the fort, their eyes glued to the screen.

Just as we were getting comfortable, the door burst open, and Brandon walked in, furious. "What's going on here?" he demanded, his face twisted with anger.

An angry man | Source: Unsplash

An angry man | Source: Unsplash

"Derek's helping us since you were too busy sulking in the car!" I snapped.

Brandon's face turned even redder. "You had no right to bring someone else into our home, Cassandra!"

Before I could respond, Derek stood up. "Brandon, you need to step up and take responsibility for your family," he said firmly.

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Brandon glared at him, fists clenched. "This is none of your business, Derek."

A man with clenched fist | Source: Pexels

A man with clenched fist | Source: Pexels

"It is when Cassandra and the kids are struggling," Derek replied, not backing down.

For a moment, I thought Brandon might lash out, but then he turned on his heel and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

I sat down, feeling a mix of emotions. Relief that Derek was here to help, but also worry about what Brandon might do next. Would he come back? Would he finally realize he needed to change?

A sad woman | Source: Pexels

A sad woman | Source: Pexels

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Derek put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You're doing great, Cassandra. Just focus on the kids for now."

I nodded. "Thank you, Derek. I don't know what we would've done without you."

We turned our attention back to the movie, trying to maintain the sense of calm we had created. As the wind howled outside and the storm raged on, I knew that whatever happened next, we would face it together.

A couple watching something | Source: Pexels

A couple watching something | Source: Pexels

The next morning, the power finally came back on. The hum of the refrigerator and the light flickering back to life felt like a small miracle.

Derek stayed until everything was settled, making sure we were all okay. The kids adored their new friend, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for his help.

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"Thank you, Derek. We couldn't have done this without you," I said.

Two people shaking hands | Source: Pexels

Two people shaking hands | Source: Pexels

"Anytime, Cassandra. You and the kids take care," he replied with a warm smile before heading back to his own home.

Brandon eventually returned, quiet and sullen. He didn't mention Derek or the snacks, and I didn't bring it up either. There was a heavy silence between us, filled with unspoken words and unresolved issues.

A distant couple | Source: Pexels

A distant couple | Source: Pexels

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As I looked around the house, now safe and calm, I felt a sense of relief but also a realization. The hurricane had exposed deeper issues in my marriage. Brandon's behavior during the storm showed me that something needed to change.

"We did it, kiddos. We made it through the storm," I said, wrapping my arms around my children.

"Are we safe now, Mommy?" Ethan asked.

A woman hugging her son | Source: Pexels

A woman hugging her son | Source: Pexels

"Yes, sweetheart. We're safe," I replied, kissing her forehead.

The storm outside had passed, but I knew there were still storms to weather within our home. With time, I would tackle those storms, too.

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What would you have done?

If you enjoyed this story, here's a heartwarming story about a millionaire who quickly learned a lesson when he tried to humiliate a poor mother of three.

A man | Source: Pexels

A man | Source: Pexels

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided "as is," and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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