We spent the next hour going over the statements, each line item revealing a little more of the picture that I had been blind to. My spouse remained calm, explaining away the charges as best they could, but the explanations felt hollow.
“This one,” I pointed to a particularly large withdrawal, “What was this for?”
They hesitated, just for a moment. “It was an unexpected expense. I meant to mention it, but things have been so hectic lately.” Their voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of defensiveness creeping in.
“We need to be more transparent with each other about these things,” I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “I feel like I’m in the dark here, and that’s not how it should be.”
My spouse nodded, looking down at the table. “You’re right. I’ll do better,” they promised, but the words felt like a band-aid over a deeper issue.
As we continued to talk, I realized that this was just the beginning. The charges were a symptom of something bigger, something that needed addressing if we were going to move forward.
The conversation left me feeling drained, but also determined. I needed to understand the full scope of what was happening, and I knew that meant taking a more active role in our finances.
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