She told me she had been struggling silently — balancing work, motherhood, and the expectations of keeping everything perfect. My simple request had reminded her of how unseen she felt. I knelt beside her, held her hands, and told her that she didn’t need to carry it all by herself anymore. Sometimes the strongest ones break quietly, not from weakness, but from exhaustion.

That night changed me. I realized that love isn’t just about celebrations and milestones — it’s about truly seeing the people who stand beside us every day. Our family became closer after that. We learned to listen, to show up, and to ask the question that matters most before it’s too late: “How are you, really?”